OF THE RIVER SETLEJ. 263 



and are used in agriculture; they call them Zu (the male) and Zemmu (the 

 female). 



A little more ascent brought us to the summit of the Childing Kona 

 Pass ; here we had an extensive view of the range, and some of the highest 

 peaks appeared sufficiently near : to the north they were of less elevation, 

 and some ranges were distinguished quite bare of snow. No forest however 

 was seen, and their form or outline was rounded, without any of the sharp 

 and shattered peaks of the Himalaya granite. The elevation of the pass 

 is about 12,388 feet above the sea. The ascent still continued ; the path 

 leading through rocky defiles, or along the face of clay-slate acclivities, in 

 which the fragments that formed the footing had all the looseness and mobi- 

 lity of ashes. The last ascent was a flight of steps, cut in the rock to the 

 summit of the Kherang pass, which judging by the depression of the one 

 left behind (13°) must be about 1500 feet higher. This estimation of its ele- 

 vation receives strength from the fact of our finding snow on it, and for se- 

 veral hundred feet down, on the northern face. Hence to Nissang, the de- 

 scent was continued and steep, but the ascent had been so severe and the 

 path so bad, that it was already late, and we did not arrive at the village 

 till near seven o'clock, our followers all behind, and neither tent nor sup- 

 plies up. We -ere so fatigued that we had little appetite, and, contenting 

 ourselves with such fare as the village afforded, were glad to lie down and 

 eet some rest. The whole distance was eleven miles. ; 



Nissang is inhabited by sixteen Lamas. It is a poor and inconsiderable 

 village, situated in a most bleak, barren, and desolate spot. It is on the 

 Jeft bank of a stream, up the bed of which is a route to Stang and Beker, 

 two villages on the Setlej, where these people frequently go for salt. The 

 difficulties of the road are great, and the cold suffered, in passing a high 

 ridge covered with snow, intense. 



The next village, called Dabling, was represented to be at so great a distance 



t t 3 



