mo COUUSE AND LEVELS 



disappeared long before noon. The elevation of this spot was 7,318 feet 

 above the sea. 



To Raba, was a distance of seven miles and three quarters, which occupi- 

 ed us four hours and a quarter. The path was the usual succession of steep 

 ascents and precipitous, and .narrow ledges overlooking, from an amazing 

 height, the river, the depression of which was observed 41°. Near Raba, 

 we found the rocks felspar, which in many .places was in a state of decom- 

 position ; in general, and where not otherwise noticed, granite and gneiss 

 are the prevailing rocks. We found here, as usual, excellent grapes, and the 

 tops of the houses were covered with them spread out to dry for exportati- 

 on. The vineyards were very extensive, and their produce very fine and 

 luxuriant. During the evening much rain fell and the night was cloudy, but 

 there was no snow, although the elevation was 7540 feet. 



After leaving Kaba, the path gradually descends to the bed of the river 

 which is here of considerable width, at first rugged and difficult, over huge 

 rocks, and latterly along an even and level flat ; thence it ascends through 

 rich vineyards to Rispa, a large village, the distance from Raba being five 

 miles and a half. Beyond Rispa it continues high above the river bed, but 

 presenting no difficulties, except the steep and almost perpendicular descent 

 to the Tedang river, which here joins the Setlej, and which is shut in by 

 mountains of great magnitude and wall-like steepness. We crossed it on 

 a sanga immediately above its confluence. The width was forty-two feet 

 and the depth and rapidity of the current considerable. The Setlej ap- 

 pears here with rather a smooth current and the bed is expanded . It is a large 

 body of water, even at this depth within the snowy chain, and to form an 

 idea from its size its source must be distant. We saw here some very beau- 

 tiful masses of gneiss of a corneous fracture the appearance was that of a 

 paste containing black prismatic crystals. There was much quartz of a 

 semi- crystallized appearance but we saw no perfect crystals. We had now 

 come within sight of Murang, a division of six hamlets spread out on the. 



