50 GREAT TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 



extensive glacier, the other might be called a narrow gorge, 

 extending up to the very watershed line on the Unta Dhurra pass, 

 below which lies a glacier four miles in length. Owing to this glacier 

 the Unta Dhurra pass is the most difficult of all the passes in 

 Kumaun and Garwhal. 



Mr. E. 0. Kyall succeeded in extending the Milam series of 

 triangles (originating from a side of the Kumaun and Grarhwal 

 survey) up to the frontier of Hundes — which is the name of the 

 S.W. province of Tibet — and then for some distance across the 

 frontier, whereby he was able to fix the positions of a large 

 number of peaks in Tibetan territory.* The severity of the winter 

 had caused the routes to be blocked up with snow ; but though 

 this may have deterred ordinary travellers, the Tibetan officials 

 were on the alert, and soon after Mr. Ryall had crossed the frontier 

 his presence became known to them. By informing them, however, 

 that his object was to survey the northern limits of British territory, 

 which ho found it impossible to do from the south, he succeeded in 

 satisfying them, and was allowed to proceed. Mr. Ryall was 

 enabled to fix a large number of snowy peaks across the Sutlej, 

 including the remarkable needle-like peak of Leo Porgyal situated 

 at the point where the British frontier crosses the gorge of the 

 river, the sacred Kailas, and other lofty peaks at the head of the 

 Manasarowar lakes and to the east. The triangulation accomplished 

 was sufficient to furnish bases for a detailed survey, if one should 

 ever be desirable. The province of Hundes or Nari-Khorsam occupies 

 the upper basins of the Sutlej and the head waters of the Karnali 

 river. It is a most desolate region, the only trees being ]:>oplars, and 

 these being found only along the lower banks of large streams. 

 One of the most important places is the military fort of Taklakhar 

 (Tiger's fortress), which is garrisoned by about 100 men and is close 

 to the Nepal frontier. It is in reality a huge mound, the dwellings 

 being excavated in the centre and the sides loopholed for defensive 

 purposes. "Within are said to be vast stores of grain and ammuni- 

 tion, the former being subject to no deterioration owing to the 

 extreme dryness of the atmosphere. Taklakhar was the last post 

 occupied by the Dogras in their disastrous invasion of Hundes, when 

 Zorowar Sing's Indian army of 6,000 men was routed by the 

 Chinese and perished miserably by the sword and by the frost on 



* Sec special report attached to Surveyor-General's Report for 1877-78. Some 

 interesting particulars are also given in the Trigonometrical Survey Report for 1S7U-77. 



