18(58.] Jfc W. Himalaya. 5 



of the Mansarowara lake, but its proper sources,— as likewise those of the 

 Indus-have not as yet been traced with undoubted accuracy. The course of 

 the river through the Chinese province Nari (or Googhi) is only imperfectly 

 known, although some additional observations may bo expected from the 

 brothers Schlagintweits' expedition. The information, which has up to 

 this time been procured, shows that the climate of Nari does not materially differ 

 from that of W. Tibet in general, it being characterized by an excessive dryness 

 of the atmosphere at all times of the year, by great contrasts* during the 

 summer in the diurnal and nocturnal temperatures, and by very severe coldf 

 in winter. The wholo country is very rough in its configuration 5 the few 

 level places being restricted to old river terraces or lake-basins, the elevation 

 of which varies from 10 to 15,000 feet, while many of the neighbouring hills rise 

 above 20,000 feet; 19,000 being about the mean of their elevation. The 

 snow lino lies at about 19,000 feet. A very limited quantity of moisture is 

 supplied from the Indian side through the Sutlej valley during the months of 

 July and August, but its influence rapidly decreases in the more eastern parts 

 of the province. The total fall of snow during the winter can, I think, rarely 

 exceed two feet. The cultivation of cereals succeeds, only where water for 

 irrigation can be abundantly supplied. The arboreal vegetation is restricted 

 to a few apricot, poplar and willow trees, the first growing up to 11,000 feet, 

 while the two others are occasionally found up to 13,000,- all of them 

 however, generally only in the neighbourhood of villages. The same is the 

 case with the Juniperus excclsa. Its geographical range appears to have 

 formerly been much wider, and a very great care is at present bestowed 

 upon this sacred tree of the Buddhists. Grassy plains afford ample pasturage 

 for cattle, being a little more extensive towards the head of the valley, 

 where several former lakes have, in consequence of the accumulation of debris 

 from glacier streams and avalanches, and on account of the increase! of 

 evaporation caused by the dryness of the atmosphere, either decreased in 

 extent or altogether disappeared. 



The fauna has an essentially Tibetan character. The Kyang, Egyms hem- 

 onus, is very plentifully met with in a wild state ; the Yak, Poephagus yrunniens, 

 has become domesticated and is at present very rarely found wild to the 

 south of the Indus; Ovis Atnmon, (Ms naJmra (barhel), Moschus moscMjcrus, 

 and other Euminants are, however, still tolerably common. TJrsus tibetanus' 

 Lynchus europeus, Vulpes montanus and ferilatus, Mustella erminea and others 

 are also not rare. Of birds a large number of FringillidzE, Ruticillin^, 

 Alaudid^e, Coevidj3 and others, mostly of a European type, are to be met with! 



^SiSSS^^^^^J^Ji h ° UrS ' *—*—* — ^at being 13 0° 

 ^te^l^^Z%^ md&t daytime Seld ° m ™<* higher thaa the freezing point of 



iSti^^issgst* to the devastation ° f arboreai ve * etation ' wwch is saM to have 



