•§86 COURSE AND LEVELS 



of a part of the river's course which appeared to have here a considerable 

 bend, coming, not from the north as I had supposed, but, from the west. 

 The view also extended up the bed of the Yang Cham river, which joins 

 the Spiti immediately at the turn. It seemed to have a great fall, and to 

 be rather a rapid torrent than a river. On the opposite side of the Spiti, ap- 

 peared an excellent road, which, I was told, was that leading by Chimarti 

 to Lari, and I resolved to return by it, as it seemed to have fewer inequali- 

 ties than the one 1 had chosen. There were no peaks of superior elevation 

 seen in any direction, but the southern ; to the east, was seen a continuation 

 of the Purkyul chain gradually falling off, and with little snow on it. To 

 the north, the left bank of the river rose into round clay slate ridges, which 

 here and there shewed a solitary peak and some little snow. To the west, 

 were seen black bare mountains too low to retain snow. In fact, it appear- 

 ed to me, that the great chain of the Himalaya was to the south, and that,, 

 in this direction, the falling off had already commenced. 



From the pass, the descent was steep at first, afterwards more easy, the 

 path always good, though 1 think scarcely passable by mounted travellers • 

 after descending to the river bed, it leads along the water edge, sometimes 

 cut out of precipitous crags in the form of a ledge, sometimes supported by 

 scaffolding. This description, however, applies to but a very short distance, 

 and after passing it, the road is again excellent. I arrived at Sumra about 

 half past four o'clock ; it is a small village, situated in rather an extensive 

 flat or table land, the foot of which is washed by the river. On enquiring 

 the distance to Lari, I began to think I might reach it with some exertion 

 by night fall, but I learned with considerable mortification that it was on the 

 other side of the river, and that there was neither jhula nor sanga to cross 

 by. On questioning them as to its being fordable, they said it might be, but 

 that the current was too strong, and the water too cold for me to attempt it. 

 My wish however to gain a day urged me to make the attempt, and, with 

 the support of two muscular Tartars, I forded the Spiti river. What made 

 it not a little dangerous was a rapid about one hundred yards below the 



