Head of the Ganges. 23$ 
which I passed over last year above the Setlej , though on the 
highest snow the faintness was not complained of, but only an 
inability to go far without stopping to take breath. 
Cfi We are about 150 feet above the bed of the river. By 
day the sun is powerful, although we are so surrounded by 
snow ; but the peaks reflect the rays. When the sun sunk be- 
hind the mountains, it was very cold : at night it froze. High 
as we are, the clouds yet rise higher. The colour of the sky is 
a deep blue. What soil there is, is spungy. A few birch bushes 
are yet seen ; but a large and strong ground-tree or creeper 
overspreads the ground, somewhat in the manner of furze or 
brambles ; and it is a curious fact, that the wood of this is, we 
think, that of which the cases of black-lead pencils are made, 
being of a fine brittle, yet soft red grain ; and the smell is the 
same as of that used for the pencils, and which hitherto has 
been called by us Cedar. I have specimens of this wood ; it is 
called, I think, Chandan : I saw it on the summit of the Choar 
peak, and in the snowy regions of Kunaur , but did not then 
examine it. It will be found probably that the Pinus Cedrus , 
or Cedar of Lebanon , is the Deodar (or, as it is called to the 
westward, the Kailou ), and no other. Nor do our mountain 
cedars (24 feet in circumference) yield in size or durability to 
those of Lebanon. But this Chandan (miscalled Cedar) is not 
even a tree : it may be called a large creeper, growing in the 
manner of bushes, though it is very strong, and some of its arms 
are as thick as a man’s thigh. Of this, and also of the great 
cedar ( Deodar ), and of other pines, I will send specimens. 
“We had brought very few followers upwards from Gangotri , 
but here we sent every one we could possibly dispense with, that 
our small stock of grain might subsist the remainder, who were 
a few trusty fellows (Mussulmans), two Gordha Sipahis , and a 
few Coolies , for two days or three, if possible, in the event of 
our being able to get over the snow in front ; and I sent orders 
to the people at Gangotri to leave grain there, if they had any 
to spare ; and if they did not hear of any supply coming from 
Reital , to make the best of their way back till they met it, and 
then to halt for us, and send some on to us. Having made all 
the arrangements we could on the important head of supplies, 
and made observations, we had leisure to admire the very singu- 
