PHYSICAL FEATURES. 11 



various ranges north of the Central Himalayas, and should therefore 

 be dropped ; whilst the " Central " Himalayas should be sub-divided 

 into the two ranges of which they consist. 



I propose, therefore, for purposes of definition, to use the 

 following terms in this memoir for the Tibetan table-land and its 

 fringing rims. 



(i) Sub-Himalayas (Siwaliks, etc). 



(2) Lower Himalayas. 



(3) Central do. consisting of 



a. Southern range (line of 

 great peaks). 

 j b. Northern range (line of 

 water-parting). 



(4) Tibetan plateau with ranges. 



(5) Kuenlun mountains. 



The Southern range of the Central Himalayas, as far as it is dis- 



Southem range Cen- cussed in the present memoir, may be said to 



tral Himalayas. begin with the mass of the Nampa peaks on 



the North-West frontier of Nepal, and ends with the heights surround. 



ing the Babeh pass south of the Spiti valley. 



The snowy group of the Nampa peaks presents one of the most 

 striking views in the Central Himalayas. It is a great gneissic mass 

 between the Kali and Karnali rivers, of bold outlines and almost 

 entirely enveloped in snow and ice. Huge glaciers descend down the 

 deep ravines which have been eroded around its flanks. All but the 

 northern spurs of this mass belongs to Nepal, and lies therefore 

 outside the area under discussion here. This magnificent group of 

 peaks, of which the Nampa is the central and highest point, is separated 

 from the western continuation of the Central Himalayas by the deep 

 V-shaped valley of the Kali river ; between the latter and the Gori 

 river rises the mass of the Dharma snowy heights, of which the 

 Takachull is the culminating point (22,660 feet). The deep cross- 

 valleys of the Gori and Dhauli Gangas enclose the loftiest part of the 

 Central Himalayas, which include the magnificent groups of heights 

 of the Nanda Devi (25,660 feet), the Trisul (23,406 feet), the Duna- 

 giri (23,184 feet) and others. Beyond the Dhauli Ganga gorge the 



( 21 ) 



