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belonging to the same formation, while it is highly probable that it belongs to the 
cretaceous formation, although no trace of it is known in the Himalayas, as in Persia. 
“ Over all there lies, in Spiti, a light calcareous marl, that appears to be of the same age 
as the underlying chalk, hut of fossilisation there is not a trace to be found. 
“ Oldham considers this result as one not to have been expected, although it is all as clear 
as it can be. Indeed, surveying is here of some difficulty. Hunger, thirst, and cold are 
daily companions, but not a single tree, or even a blade of grass, hinders or conceals the 
view of the picture which spreads itself before the eyes of the geologist. The majority of 
the hills reach, in the snow region, to upwards of 20,000 feet, and the lower ranges are 
commonly 8,000 to 10,000 feet, and often more. Por nearly three months I did not see a 
single tree, and but little vegetation ; such as it is, however, it is exceedingly interesting. 
I collected every plant that came under my eyes (of course, with the help of my followers), 
and neither Stur and his Drabas nor Schott with his Primulas were forgotten. I have 
looked particularly sharply after Praha , and to-day I hope to send a small package to our 
friends. I have made numerous notes upon the flora and fauna, especially upon the 
highest animal and plant life and their limits. Insects are apparently abundant, some 
birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals, unfortunately very few snails ; no wonder, where there 
is no rain, or the same as none, there the vegetation is very poor, and how then can snails 
be there ? In the whole of Spiti I only found three Helices, one Pupa, and one Lymncea, 
all nearly microscopical ; this even E. v. Hauer must accept (I think I am not mistaken), 
as the complete fauna of a whole trans-Gangetic province. 
“ Beyond Spiti I did not find a trace of land shells. Of Equus ley any, the wild ass (not 
horse as it is often called), I obtained more skins and skeletons ; also of Capra ibex, and 
others. Immediately on reaching Calcutta I. will send all to Vienna. 
I brought a quantity of curiosities with me, manuscripts, weapons, and pictures, if one 
can so call the Tibetan work. 
The mineralogical productions are, as yet, hut little described, and we collected about 
30 mineral species, many very rare and good examples. On the Indus, near Bongo, and 
in the extension from the mouth of the Puga to the Hanle stream, are widespread syenitic, 
epidotiferous, serpentiniferous, and diallagiferous rocks. In the serpentine chromic iron 
occurs not uncommonly, and in veins of the same there is found a green mineral, which 
includes chrome, and is probably oxide of chrome, which Dana barely mentions in his 
Manual ’ and altogether ignores in his ‘ System.’ As soon as I get back to Calcutta, 
I hope, after an examination of the whole, to prepare a short list, as, in spite of 
Herbert’s ‘ Beport,’ so little is known of the much esteemed mineralogical wealth of the 
Himalayas. * 
I remain onlv a few days here, and spend the rest of this month between Simla and the 
plains, in order to accomplish my geological section of the whole of the hills. I must 
be in Calcutta by the beginning of November, where much work awaits me. 
•*; ^ *»• ■3’ 
Among Stoliczka’s first papers published in the English language was a zoological one 
(12) descriptive of a small m ammal of which he obtained several examples in Ladak, near 
the extreme limit of vegetation, at an elevation of about 19,000 feet. 
* A list and description of these minerals by Mr. F. E. Mallet was published in the same memoir as Stoliczka’s 
report above quoted. 
