Mr. Fraser on the Himahy Mountains . 71 
the same direction and dip of the strata, as before noted. The rocks 
were of various colours, red, white, yellow, grey, black ; and these 
colours, particularly the white, often ran in strata, but frequently 
were irregularly diffused. The observations with the glass confirmed 
our opinion that the summits of the cliffs were composed only of 
the same rocks as the ruins at our feet. 
Our descent to the Bhagiruttee was accompanied by a striking 
change of scenery, formed by a corresponding one in the nature of 
the hills. The glen of this river is deeper and darker, and the 
precipices on either side very far more lofty and terrible than those 
forming the bed of the Jumna. At this place all appearance of stratifi- 
cation ceased. The rocks took irregular shapes, and spired into lofty 
and fantastic pinnacles, and this was more remarkable as we ap- 
proached Gungotree, the holy place near the source, beyond which 
it is not practicable to go. The rock in like manner was totally 
different, and this difference of material produced that in the appear- 
ance of the mountains. It was here almost universally a hard 
compact stone, formed of quartoze matter, mica, and a black shining 
substance, each of these ingredients varying in quantity in different 
specimens. This stone, I then presumed, to be granite, and have 
since been informed that I was right. It is found of various hues 
and appearances, from white to grey, and yellow, with a tinge of red, 
and much or little spotted with its various ingredients and different 
tints. For some miles above the point where we descended into the 
river, micaceous and other schistus still held their place, but for about 
sixteen miles below Gungotree, nothing was seen but granite.— 
The lofty mountains above, thinly sprinkled with dark pines, were 
formed of masses and precipices of this rock, and the river that 
foamed below had hollowed to itself a trough in the solid stone for 
its passage* The mountains and peaks surrounding Gungotree are 
