£S0 j\fr Eaillic Fraser on the Himalaya Mountains^ 
mind, while contemplating the deathlike ghastly calm that is 
shed over them. Surely such a scene is Gangootree, We were 
BOW in the centre of the stupendous Himala, the loftiest, and 
perhaps most rugged, range of mountains in the world. We 
were at the acknowledged source of that noble river, equal- 
ly an object of veneration and a source of fertility, plenty, and 
opulence to Hindostan; and we had now reached the holiest 
shrine of Hindoo worship which these holy hills contain. . The 
fortuitous circumstance of being the first European that ever 
penetrated to this spot was no matter of boast, for no great dan- 
ger had been braved, and no extraordinary fatigue undergone. 
The first object of inquiry that naturally occurs to the traveller, 
is the source of the river. This source, according to the pundit’s 
report, is not more than five miles horizontal distance from the 
temple, and in a direction S. E. 85° nearly ; and beyond this 
place, it is, in all probability, chiefly supplied by the melting of 
the great bosom of snow which terminates the valley, and which 
lies between the peaks of the great mountain above mentioned. 
‘‘ The mountain which is considered to be the loftiest and 
greatest of the snowy range in this quarter, and probably yields 
to none in the whole Himalaya, obtains the name of Eoodroo- 
Himala, and is held to be the throne or residence of Mahadeo 
himself. It has five principal peaks, called Roodroo-Himala, 
Eurrumpooree, Bissenpooree, Oodgurreekanta, and Soorga Rou- 
nee. These form a sort of semicircular hollow of very conside- 
rable extent, filled with eternal snow ; from the gradual disso- 
lution of the lower parts of which the principal part of the stream 
is generated : probably there may be smaller hollows beyond the 
point to the right above Gangootree which also supply a por- 
, tion.” P. 471. 
Art. III. — On the Deoandatlm and Reduction, qf Iron Ores. 
By David Mushet, Esq. Communicated by the Author. 
IM^any years ago, X was led, from various experiments (which 
were then narrated in the Philosophical Magazine,) fo con- 
clude, that the common argillaceous ironstone of this country, 
