414 A JOURNEY TO LAKE 



fmall body of re folate men on the top might defend it almoft again ft 

 a large army, merely by rolling down fiones* 



We found the fun hot about eleven, when we began to climb ; but 

 it was ftated that about three it became fo cold that it would be fcarce- 

 ]y poffible to fupport it; however I conceive this to be an exaggeration. 

 In fome parts of the ftoney plain, the fnow lay in maffes, over which the 

 bullocks trod without heftVtion ; and in others, it was melting. Part 

 ©f this gently ran over the furfaceinto ravines, and part foaked inta 

 the ground, and probably broke out in fprings at diilant places. Be- 

 tween the Niii Ghati and the northern face of a hill adjoining a ft ream 

 called the J&ndu, there wis not the fmallelt trace of vegetation. -r-The 

 diftancc was about one half cos ,• but juff on the brow of the hill de- 

 clining to the river, were fome bufhes of furze and green mounds form- 

 ed by a kind of mofs_, which is remarkably clofe and firm.— The flo« 

 ney plain was of great breadth and was interfered by deep and broad 

 ravine-, which took off the melting fnows. — Thefe ravines all ran to- 

 wards the North and Eaft, and are the fources of various dreams which 

 joining in their courfe, give ufe to the Setlij. The lad range of hills 

 had been reprefented as not fo high as many inGarwaL However 

 from the view which I have had of them, it appears to me that they 

 are higher; and the general difficulty of breathing experienced by us 

 in paffmg them comes in confirmation of this opinion. 



We encamped on fome flat ground • on • the bank of the Jandu. a 

 river which receives the Sheku, and another branch from the northern 

 face of the great Himalaya range. It was extremely hot when we ar- 

 rived; and as there was no natural fhelter, I hid myfelf on the ground 

 under a thick blanket. Though oppreffed with deflre for fleep, I 

 found it impoffiblc to indulge the 'inclination, In confequence of op- 



