1856.] Route of two Nepalese Embassies to PeJcin. 481 



seem to indicate that the axial line of the Himalaya lies beyond the 

 ghat line, it is obvious to remark that this assumed line is still 

 parallel to the ghat line, though beyond it, and consequently cannot 

 be reconciled with an essentially meridional axis, such as the Gangri 

 range presents. And, upon the whole, and with reference to organic 

 phenomena especially, the ghat line still presents itself to me as 

 the best divisor of the Indian and trans-Indian regions and climates, 

 though I am not unaware that brahmanic geography has, from 

 remote times, carried the Indian frontier up to Mansarovar and 

 Bavanhrad, to the Brahmaputra and Indus line in Tibet. And, 

 again, though I do not, nor ever did, doubt that Tibet is a very 

 mountainous country, yet I conceive that there are good reasons 

 for admitting the propriety of Humboldt's general designation for 

 it. He calls it a plateau or elevated plain, and all those I have 

 conversed with who have passed from various parts of the Hima- 

 layan countries into those of Tibet have expressed themselves in 

 terms implying a strong distinction at least between the physiog- 

 nomy of the former and the latter regions. I would add, that 

 nothing can be juster or finer than Turner's original contrast of 

 the two. 



No one acquainted, as I have long been, with the native descrip- 

 tions of Tibet,* or with the general and special delineations of the 

 country by Danville, based entirely upon native materials, or with 

 such enumerations of mountain ranges occurring between the Nepa- 

 lese and Chinese frontiers, as the accompanying documents contain, 

 could for a moment question that mountains abound in Tibet. On 

 the other hand, there are several reasons of a general nature, 

 besides the specific allegations of the fact by the people, to prove 

 that wide spread plains also abound there. It may be worth while 

 to enumerate these reasons. They are as follows : 



1st. — One language only prevails throughout all the provinces of 

 Southern Tibet, that is to say, throughout Balti, Ladak, Nan, 



the ghat line ; and it may well be questioned if any line of equal height and extent 

 exist north of that line. It is the closing of the ghats that annually stops all 

 access to Tibet, not any obstacle beyond them. 

 * Journal No. IV. for April, 1832, Article I. 



3 R 



