16 GRIESBACH : GEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL HIMALAYAS. 



hills which, after the Hindu name of one peak, we have called che 

 Kailas range, sparingly covered with snow, although the average 

 height of the range is probably not under 18,000 feet, and there are 

 found in the chain heights of over 22,000 feet elevation ; southwards 

 the mighty rim of the Himalayas, closely plastered over with snow 

 and glaciers ; along the north slope of this snowy range another and 

 lesser chain of hills runs parallel to it, which is not only entirely 

 bare, but usually almost snow-free. Over this last range all the great 

 passes into Tibet are found. 



This, in few words, describes the orography of Hundes ; for a 

 detailed account of this region I refer to the excellent accounts of 

 the brothers (Sir) Henry and (General) Richard Strachey, 1 who have 

 travelled extensively over this province. Later on the brothers 

 Schlagintweit 2 and the officers of the Survey of India, 3 have given 

 accurate reports on the topographical features of Hundes. 



The area with which this memoir chiefly deals is situated for the 



greater part between the chain of the greatest 



Himalayan ranges. 



elevations in the Himalayas and the line of 

 watershed between the Ganges and Sutlej drainage, with part of 

 the Spiti ground west of the latter river. 



Viewed from any of our hill stations, perhaps best from either 

 Ranikhet or Landour, we may observe one of the grandest panora- 

 mas in the world. Right across the horizon from north-west to 

 east extends what appears as an unbroken chain of lofty snow- 

 covered mountains, towering some 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the 

 various hill-ranges which lie south of this snowy chain of peaks. 

 The average elevation of this grand mountain line is perhaps 

 not less than 20,000 feet, although many of the points in it rise to 

 22,000, 23,000 and upwards of 25,000 feet. Roughly speaking, from 

 a level of 16,000 feet upwards, this chain is enveloped in perpetual 

 snow. This is what I may call here, as it has been already called by 

 former observers, the central range of the Himalayas. Colonel Godwin- 



1 See list of literature. 



2 Ditto ditto. 

 s Ditto ditto. 



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