ASIA 



879 



angle to the Kuen-lun, with which it unites between Kashmir and Fyzabad. Following this 

 range, to the east we find it forming the northern boundary of Hindostan, and entering China. 

 To the west of the Beloor, the united chains of the Himalaya and Kuen-lun form the range 

 of the Hindoo-kho, which Humboldt regards as a continuation of the Kuen-lun, though it is 

 generally considered as a prolongation of the Himalaya. After following the direction of the 

 parallel through five or six degrees, this range inclines to the northwest, and, passing between 

 the plateau of Iran, and the Caspian, is at length lost in the province of Adzerbaidjan. If, 

 therefore, we regard the Hindoo-kho as a continuation of the Himalaya, the last will form a 

 continuous system, extending from the west of Persia to the eastern sea, or through 73 degrees 

 of longitude. Some of the summits of this stupendous range are known to have a greater ele- 

 vation than any other points on the surface of the earth. Djavahir, on the western side of the 

 country of Nepaul, attains the altitude of 25,746 feet ; while Dhawalaghiri, on the eastern side 



of the same country, rises to the 

 enormous height of 28,096 feet 

 above the level of the sea. 



Between the first and second 

 systems, the country is enclosed 

 on the eastern side by the Khing- 

 khan-oola, a range which stretch- 

 es between the Altai and the 

 Thian-chan, in the direction of 

 north-northeast, beyond the me- 

 ridian of Pekin. On the western 

 side, towards Tchoui, Sarasou, 

 and the lower Sihoun, it is entire- 

 ly open. Exactly the reverse of 

 this is the case with the country 

 between the Thian-chan and Ku- 

 en-lun, which is open on the east- 

 ern side, but strikingly enclosed 

 on the west by the transverse chain 

 of the Bolor. This chain strikes 

 off from the Kuen-lun at right 

 angles, and, following the direc- 

 tion of the meridian, pierces 

 through the Thian-chan to the 

 northwest of Kashgar, and ex- 

 tends to the Alatau, another chain 

 running from west to east between 

 the lakes Balkash and Issikoul. 

 The intermediate space between 

 the Kuen-lun and the Himalaya, 

 comprehending Thibet and Kat- 

 chi, is covered with mountains so 

 closely grouped together as to 

 form an almost continuous plateau 

 or table-land. Its general eleva- 

 tion is great, but, as might be an- 

 ticipated, very unequal. The 

 mildness of the winters and the 

 cultivation of the vine in the gar- 

 dens of H'lassa in Eastern Thi- 

 bet, under the parallel of 29° 

 40', indicates, as Humboldt re- 

 marks, the existence of deep val- 

 leys and circular depressions. 



3. Elevated Land. Though 

 Asia Tindoubledly presents a 

 grealer niass oi" elevated land 



Comparative Height of tlic Mountains of Asi 



1. Ural, . 



2. Altai, . 



3. Anti Libanus, in ] 

 which are Mt. Car- ] 

 mel and Mt. Tabor, ' 



4. Mt. Lebanon in An- 



ti Libanus Chain, • 

 B. Tauro Caucasian, 



5,200 feet. 



12,000 " 



16,000 " 



11,000 " 



18,000 " 



6. Mount Ararat, 



7. Elboorz, 



8. Teenshan, 



9. Kwanlun, 



10. Hindoo Koo, 



11. Chamoulari (Him- 

 ala), 



17,280 feet. 



12,000 " 



20.000 " 



16,000 " 



20,000 " 



1 28,000 " 



