380 Correspondence. 



the main point for which I contended, is admitted by Captain Jack, and 

 likewise I suspect by yourself, namely that the snow lies no longer deep- 

 er and lower down on the Northern aspect of " the Himalaya," than it does 

 on the Southern aspect ; this being admitted, the minor points may be 

 easily disposed of.* 



Captain Jack objects to my stating that "dense forests and vegeta- 

 tion occur along the Southern slopes while they are nearly altogether 

 wanting on the Northern face;" in making this statement, I referred, 

 not to the Southern slopes of secondary or minor ranges on the Cis-Hima- 

 layan aspect, but to the fact that forests and dense vegetation are found 

 on the South of the principal chain or true Himalaya, while on the 

 Northern aspect of that great range they are nearly altogether want- 

 ing. This assertion will, I doubt not, be borne out by every one who 

 has crossed into Tartary : for while to the South of the great chain we 

 find superb and stately forests, on the North there is scarcely a tree 

 to be seen, and the few that are occasionally met with are either stunt- 

 ed Cypresses growing in the moist soil of ravines, or poplars planted 

 round a village by the hand of man for economical purposes. 



The reason why the minor ranges South of the Himalaya are clothed 

 with forests on their Northern aspect is, I think, to be attributed to the 

 fact that the dip of the strata being to the North or North-east, af- 

 fords abundant soil on that side for the growth of vegetation, while the 

 Southern out-crop, on the other hand, generally presents a bare and 

 rocky escarpment on which little else than grasses and ferns can find 

 soil enough to nourish them. North of the Western Himalaya, how- 

 ever, be the dip to whatever point it my, there are no forests at all. 



In saying that vegetation attracted moisture, I have probably erred, 

 and I thank Captain Jack for the courteous manner in which he has 

 pointed out my mistake. I should rather have said that as vegetation 

 is known to absorb or imbide moisture without which it cannot flour- 

 ish, so the actual presence of dense forests proves, that the Southern 

 climate is damper than the Northern one, which, coupled with the facts 

 that the sun has less power on the northern aspect, and that the 

 periodical rains do not extend thither, seems, according to my idea, a 



* The difference between Captains Jack and Hutton, is rather a difference about 

 words than any real difference of opinion as to the fact, Captain Hutton having 

 inadvertently omitted in the first instance to distinguish according to conventional 

 terms, the aspect of the Principal Mountain Chain of the Himalaya, from that of 

 the Principal mountain groups, subordinate groups, and mountains — Geographical 

 terms, the use of which is essential to the clear understanding of the question.-— Ed. 



