1866.] Tableau of High Asia. 65 



where ample tracts exist extremely favourable for erecting such estab- 

 lishments even on a large scale. 



The pasture-grounds of Tibet, to which the numerous herds of sheep 

 are driven in summer, reach an elevation from 15,000 to 16,349 ft,, 

 beyond which the Tibetan shepherds, who sometimes remain upon the 

 mountains from June to September, cannot be supposed to make any 

 permanent residence. The most elevated pasture-grounds of Tibet 

 are, Larsa (16,349 ft.), Zinchin (16,222 ft.), Kyangchu (15,781 ft,), 

 Rukchin (15,064 ft.), A'mlung (15,300 ft.), and Jugta (15,058 ft.) 



Though many cloudless days succeed each other in these lofty 

 regions, thus leaving the power of direct insolation unimpaired, the 

 climate always remains bleak ; while the prevailing winds not only 

 aggravate the effects of a low temperature, but also that of a low baro- 

 metrical pressure, thus presenting a remarkable modification of cli- 

 mate, of which I shall hereafter give some detail in the considerations 

 upon the influence of height in general. The shepherds with difficul- 

 ty provide themselves with a sufficient supply of fuel for cooking pur- 

 poses ; sometimes they contrive with much labour and pains to erect 

 rude stone walls, behind which they may take shelter during the 

 night. These walls are usually circular in form, from four to five 

 feet high, and without a roof. 



In the Kwilun, the slopes on its southern side are so elevated, that 

 there exist no pasture-grounds at all ; on its northern slopes, they do 

 not occur above 13,000 ft. 



For the Andes no data with reference to pasture-grounds are at my 

 disposal. 



The pasture-grounds in the Alps, which are generally in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Chalets, may be met with at heights of 8,000 ft. and 

 upwards : the Fluhalpe (8,468 ft.) on the Findelen glacier near the 

 Monte Rosa, and the Torrenthutle, in the Anniviers valley, being 

 instances of the greatest elevations. 



V. Extreme heights visited by man. 



1. Mountain- ascents. 



Temporary habitations, frequented for some months, as we have 



seen from the discussion of the highest pasture-grounds, sometimes 



reach a height of nearly 16,300 ft. As far as my experience goes, I 



9 



