62 Mr. Fraser on the Hlmalay Mountain a* 
tains at different heights, from 26,862 feet downwards to about 
22,000. Jumnotree, whence the river Jumna takes its rise, and 
which was visited during the tour in which these specimens were 
collected, is laid down as 25,500 feet above the level of the sea; the 
route lay over a shoulder of this mountain, which it w T as conjectured 
could not be more than three thousand feet lower than its principal 
peaks. 
This stupendous height, exceeding greatly it is believed that of 
any mountains explored or yet known, cannot but render the range 
an object of much interest in many points of view; and certainly 
an accurate knowledge of its structure and the composition of the 
loftier peaks would be a most desirable acquisition to geological 
knowledge. Great difficulty must be experienced however in the 
attainment of this, from the physical obstacles alone that present 
themselves to the researches of travellers, though these do not form 
the only ones to be encountered in such a pursuit ; in the mean time 
the most slender approach toward this object may perhaps excite 
some interest, and be received with indulgence. 
The specimens accompanying these notes were collected in that 
portion of the hilly region which is contained between the rivers 
Bhagiruttee (or sacred and principal branch of the Ganges) and the 
Sutlej ; the former of which takes its rise in the recesses of the 
Himalay, the latter has its origin on the north-east face, in Thibet, 
and in its passage to join the Indus cuts its way through this lofty 
range. 
The general line of the mountainous belt is here nearly from south- 
east to north-west, the sides of which rise abruptly from the sandy 
plains, as rocks from the sea. A small ridge rising in height from 500 
to 750 feet, and in depth extending from three to six miles, runs next 
to the plains from Hurd war (the debouche of the Ganges from the 
hill) half way to the Sutlej ; this consists chiefly of sandstone, of a 
