S88 Account of Captain Hodgson’s Journey to the 
well pleased to have got so far beyond Gangotri , hitherto the 
boundary of research on the Ganges.” 
“ May 30. — Proceeded onwards. Crossed a high avalanche 
of snow. 
66 Gradually ascending among rocks. To the left high cliffs 
of granite, but not so steep as before; to the right snowy peaks, 
their summits above 600 or 700 feet high, distant about two 
miles. The river-bed is here about two furlongs wide, and full 
of stones. River certainly diminished in size : it is very rapid, 
its bed being an ascent. We are now above the line of vegeta- 
tion of trees, and past the last firs. The birches remain, but 
they are only large bushes ; laurels are also seen, and a sort of, 
I believe, litchen (lichen?) which grows on the rocks. The 
noble three-peaked mountain shines in our front, and is the 
grandest and most splendid object the eye of man ever beheld. 
As no person knows these peaks or their names, we assume the 
privilege of navigators, and call them St George, St Patrick, 
and St Andrew. St George bears 129°; St Patrick 132° 30'. 
On going farther, we saw another lower peak between St George 
and St Patrick, which we called St David, and the mountain 
collectively the Four Saints.” 
“ Halted near the debouche of the Ganges. This is an ex- 
cellent and safe place ; no peak can fall on us : five companies, 
or even a battalion, might encamp here. Sublime beyond de- 
scription is the appearance of the snowy peaks now close to us. 
The Four Saints are at the head of the valley of snow, and a 
most magnificent peak, cased in snow and shining ice, stands 
like a giant to the right of the valley : this we named Mount 
Moira. The snow valley, which hides the river, appears of 
great extent. 
“We experienced considerable difficulty in breathing, and 
that peculiar sensation which is always felt at great elevations, 
where there is any sort of herbage, though I never experienced 
the like on the naked snow-beds, even when higher. Moun- 
taineers, who know nothing of the thinness of the air, attribute 
the faintness to the exhalation from noxious plants, and I be- 
lieve they are right ; for a sickening effluvium was given out 
by them here, as well as on the heights under the snowy peaks, 
