On the Heights of the Snowy Peaks of the Himalaya. SIS 
It will be acknowledged, that the extension of geographical 
knowledge is a desirable object, and it cannot be denied that, to 
ascertain the heights and positions of the snowy peaks of the, 
Himalaya, is not only an interesting and curious but very useful 
inquiry; for when their latitudes and longitudes are known, the 
geographical position of any place, from whence one, or more of 
them, are visible , may be determined with ease and accuracy. 
We have every facility and opportunity of observing some of these 
resplendent and lofty guides, in the great extent of 15J degrees 
of longitude, now either in our possession, or under our in- 
fluence and controul, from the banks of the river Settlej at Lu- 
diana, to beyond those of the Burampooter in Bengal. 
In all this belt, the outline of some of the snowy peaks may 
frequently be observed, in clear weather, to the distance of 150 
miles and upwards, with sufficient distinctness for an observer 
to fix his own position , by obvious methods, and thus to be en- 
abled to correct the geography of the older maps. But as yet, 
we do not, by Captain Webb’s survey, and that of Lieutenant 
Herbert and myself, know the precise latitudes and longitudes 
of any peaks further to the SE. than the latitude of 29° 49' 43", 
and longitude 81".2 nearly. It would be very satisfactory to 
determine the positions of those more eastern peaks visible from 
Patna, Monghir, Bhagalpur, and Rajmal, and this may be done 
with considerable precision, by their azimuths , t^ken at the 
above places, with their observed differences of latitude, and 
differences of longitude, taken with good chronometers, carried 
down the river in fast going light boats, when the stream is most 
rapid : the boats would reach Monghir from Patna in a day, 
and two good chronometers ought to give the difference of lati- 
tude within a quarter of a mile. The chronometrical measures 
may also be compared and corrected by differences of longitude 
taken by the firing of gunpowder : the flash of half a pound of 
gunpowder, fired at the hill-house at Pir Pahar near Monghir, 
would be seen at Janghira rock, from which a flash would be 
seen at Patter Ghatta, below Bhagalpur, and thence at Fir 
Point! or Sicri Gallf, or probably Rajmal. 
After giving an account of the instruments employed, and 
the method of observation, Captain Hodgson remarks : 
