846 . COURSE AND LEVELS 



on, but then it is to be noted that the hill pasturage is excellent, and im- 

 proves in luxuriance the greater the elevation, short of perpetual snow. 



Towards sunset we reached the limit of forest, which made its last ex- 

 piring effort in the production of a few stunted creepers of the Rhododen- 

 dron genus. The elevation of the place was 1 1,281 feet aboye the sea, which 

 may therefore be considered as the height of this limit: several caves, or 

 overhanging rocks, capable of affording shelter to our followers, induced 

 us to halt here, the evening being far advanced and no firewood procurable 

 a-,head. The night was very cold, and in the morning the thermometer 

 was down to 34°; my companion shot here a piunai, which afforded us an 

 excellent dinner. 



As we had a long and fatiguing march before us, we thought it advisable 

 to take some refreshment before setting out. Accordingly, it was near ten 

 o'clock b efore we were fairly in motion. The narrow valley already des- 

 cribed continues for a mile and a half further; the river broad but shallow, 

 and having little current. Fragments of every size, and of every kind of gra- 

 nite or gneiss, were strewed about ; amongst them, some very brilliant, if not 

 beautiful, specimens were observed, in which the plates of mica were of an 

 unusual size. Tlie valley was terminated by the ridge, apparently, of the 

 Himalaya itself, rising in front of us, from the face of which, the river ap- 

 peared to issue in a noble cataract of two falls from 100 to 120 feet each. 

 We ascended by a winding path to the head of these falls, which were sup- 

 plied by the partial melting of the vast mass of snow that filled the com- 

 pass of the eye on whichever side it was directed. We were now at the 

 immediate foot of this range, and all before us, to the very summit, was 

 snow. The first part of our progress up this steep ascent, was little im- 

 peded by it ; it was scanty though soft. As we advanced, it increased in 

 quantity though not immediately in firmness; the ascent continued steep, 

 and the fatigue was much increased by sinking. Here and there in this 



