70 MIDDLEMISS : KANGRA EARTHQUAKE. 



face of the hill from which it came was of a roughly crescent-shape, about 

 300 yards high, and about 200 long. The level of the lake above the 

 lower part of the outflow was, on 3rd June 1905, about 60 to 80 feet. 

 The fallen rock composing the dam was white and pale ochre coloured 

 limestone, and dipped originally at high angles. The water in the 

 lake was not altogether confined, 1 but constantly overflowed to the 

 N. W. forming a rapid. On account of the steepness of the fallen 

 debris cone, which lay at an angle of about 40°, and rose 100 — 150 ft. 

 above its present base forming the dam (see pi. 15, fig. 2), it is 

 probable that the wash of the outflow water will periodically bring 

 down more stuff from the cone, and so rejuvenate the dam from time 

 to time ; but there is no apprehension of any dangerous flooding from 

 the ponded water, which already in the summer of 1906 had ceased 

 to exist as a lake. A suspension bridge, which crossed 'the valley 

 where the fallen debris now lies, had entirely disappeared from view ; 

 and the road following the bed of the valley along the S. W. side was 

 entirely submerged under the lake. 



The spur of the hill facing the slip is a steep and narrow ridge 

 with another gap between it and the main ridge, 

 ing the lake which gap indicates an ancient channel followed 



once by the river when the valley was much less 

 excavated than now. This spur and its N.E. slopes are much fissured 

 parallel to the length of the ridge and to the lie of the valley. A 

 few houses perched on it were completely destroyed, and one still 

 standing was in a hopeless condition. The ridge descends abruptly 

 to the N. W . in a steep precipice opposite the slip, and later on may 

 also, in common with the debris cone, contribute to the maintenance 

 of the dam by landslips from it. Generally, also, the lofty and pre- 

 cipitous limestone crags which descend to the shores of the lake were 

 in a much slipped condition, whilst to the S.W. of the lake the 

 shattered slate slopes (along which the temporary road now goes), 

 and the few interbanded layers of limestone, are all in a most danger- 



Except for one day when I was informed the people ran down the dam elope an3 

 made their escape from the valley. 



