486 



KOHI-BABA. 



At 2 p. m. set up the barometer on the ridge, the mercury stood 

 17.354. Therm, in cistern, 79.5. Detached Therm, in sun 85°— on 

 the ground 105°. 



September 2nd. — At <1\ p.m. the barometer stood 17.356. 



Assuming this to give about 15,000 feet, none of the peaks will 

 be found to be higher than 16,500. The culminating point was 

 close by, and did not appear more than 1,000 feet above me. The 

 different ridges are separated by deep spaces in which snow lies to a 

 considerable extent. 



Having descended a considerable way I again set up the barometer. 

 Time 4-45 p. m. 



The mercury stood at 18.889. 



Therm, in the Cistern. 63° 



Ditto in the air 68° 



The vegetation continues unaltered, the same as that of Kaloo 

 kotul. 



Carduacese, Astragali, Nardoid, Bromoid, Hordeoid pubescens, 

 and Statices. And up to this, which may be assumed as 13,500 

 feet, the hills present the same features, rounded with a good deal 

 of soil, and large granitic masses. 



But above this the disintegration of the ridge has reached a great 

 extent; for 1,500 to 2,000 feet the ascent is steep, passing over a 

 profusion of blocks and slabs of granite, generally externally of a 

 dark brown colour ; here and there there is some coarse granular 

 soil, and towards the second station, say at an altitude of 14,000 

 feet, a marshy spot occurred, crowded with Primula, together with 

 Arenaria, Fumaria of Erak, Ranunculus of Hajeeguk, Carex, etc. 

 From within 1,000 feet of the summit the ascent was easier, over 

 ground composed entirely of small angular bits of granite, which 

 rock protrudes to the north, forming the south wall of a huge 

 amphitheatre, heavily snowed in places. 



This granite varies much ; being below a coarse quartzose grey 

 rock, above a very compact brown rock, except perhaps in its lowest 

 outcrop, where it has a slaty structure. 



The second station may be assumed as the lowest limit of the 

 inferior snow line, but this so much depends on casual circumstances 

 that even many places at 15,000 feet are uncovered by snow, which 

 as might be expected is always heaviest in the higher valleys which 

 are least exposed to the sun's rays. The surface of the snow in 

 many places was picturesque, being in the shape of crowded pinna- 



