330 MEMOIR OF A SURVEY OF 



Our approach to the summit was marked by greater steepness and 

 difficulty, and at last by the absence of all larger trees, which gave place 

 to those of very stunted growth, or to low bushes, indicating by their 

 appearance, what was asserted by our guides, that snow remains here. It 

 may be supposed what interest was excited as each new gain on the 

 mountain's steep face brought me nearer to that height whence I expected 

 to overlook the unknown regions through which the Brahmaputra has its 

 hidden course, but I suffered disappointment. Another mountain rose 

 close to this one on its east, and where the capricious clouds permitted, 

 through their casual openings, a passing glimpse of the rugged country 

 beyond, all I could perceive was fir-clad mountain or a patch of snow. 

 To the south-east the Liiri was again perceived, and the snowy peaks 

 were partially visible, where it has its source— it was evident that the 

 extreme of that valley or glen was not far distant. To the north this 

 peak is connected with others of greater altitude, and I was sorry to find 

 that heavy clouds, in that direction, completely obstructed the view. 



We had been refreshed, while halting on the top, with numerous berries 

 of a peculiar kind, growing in luxurious branches like currants. They are 

 without stones and juicy : when unripe, they are of a pure or greenish white, 

 and when ripened, of a beautiful azure blue. We had not descended very 

 far before we found water trickling down the rock, our path then led along 

 the little rill, which, having frequent contributions in its progress towards 

 the base, had become, near our halting place, a considerable stream. It 

 was a wild spot, a complete chasm between two high mountains, where we 

 built our little huts for the night, of such poor materials as the more 

 leafy branches of fir trees. 



We resumed our descent early the next day, and continued on the 

 left bank of the glen, first winding to the east, and gradually more to the 

 north, in the worst of paths ; the only support to which is often the root of 



