104 
tag are believed to exceed 32000 feet, 
although they have not yet been 
reached nor measured. But they are 
seen at the distance of nearly 300 
miles. 
The limits of perpetual snow in 
lat. 32 is not at 11000 feet as syste- 
matic calculation would have it, but 
at 13500 feet. Frazer found vegeta- 
tion as far as 13192 feet, Mosses and 
Lichens as far as 14700 feet. Against 
all rules the Northern side or slope of 
Imalaya is warmer than the South- 
ern, owing to dryness and latent 
heat. Gerard and Jaqueminot found 
in Thibet cultivation as far as 17000 
feet, and perpetual snow only at 
20500 feet! Therefore the climate 
and soil improves inland in these 
lofty regions, and were still milder 
once when the peaks had no perpetu- 
al snow. 
Thibet lies between the Imalaya 
and Celestial Mountains, Tartary 
between these and the Golden Moun- 
tains or Altay. Both are lofty plains 
and table lands from 10000 to 15000 
feet above the sea, fertile and popu- 
lous, except in the sandy desert of 
Cobi. 
North of Cashmir the Imalaya 
Mountains take the name of Yind- 
hyan, West of the Indus they be- 
come the Hindu cush meaning Dark 
Mountains, with peaks 20500 feet 
high. Three ranges of ridges form 
the Imalaya proper, with peaks from 
21000 to 28000 feet high. The third 
ridge is not penetrated by the rivers, 
the Indus and Ganges penetrate the 
4 wo others. 
The Geology of these Mountains 
is very interesting. As you ascend 
them four ranges of secondary hills 
and mountains are found on their 
Southern slopes. The first from 500 
to 750 feet above the plains of India 
is of Sandstone, clay and gravel. 
The second is of Claystone from 
1500 to 5000 feet high. The third 
are mountains of Limestone 7000 
feet high. And the fourth of slate 
8000 feet high. See Frazer. 
Beyond begin the three primitive 
ranges of Imalaya, which are how- 
ever all stratified even to the highest 
peaks. The strata are commonly 
inclined 40 to 45 deg. but often per- 
pendicular, and some jumbled in all 
kinds of direction and forms, so as 
to resemble marble paper! They are 
commonly of Quartz, (black or white) 
Hornstone, Granite, Gneis, and 
Micaslate. Gangotri is entirely gra- 
nitic, Jumnotri has veins of all co- 
lors. See Frazer. 
No Volcanoes are found in Ima- 
laya, except lake and water volca- 
noes, 0 Tirtaputi in Ladak is a hot 
spring like a vol canoe spouting sedi- 
ments half a mile in circuit. Some 
burning volcanoes in the Altay have 
not yet been visited. No diluvium 
is found on the mountains and peaks 
of Imalaya, except in some valleys, 
where many eruptions and disrup- 
tions of lakes have taken place. 
They have fossil remains in the se- 
condary strata; but hardly any di- 
luvial fossils. It is therefore doubt- 
ful whether the geological floods 
reached that lofty land, ahd proba- 
ble it was the THEBA of the Bible 
or refuge in Noah’s flood. 
Imalaya and its branches E. and 
W. are the true native country of 
the Wild Ox, Horse, Ass, Goat, 
Sheep, Hog, Dog, Cat, Camel, Hen, 
Duck, Pheasant, &c, and almost 
every other animal that has since 
been domesticated, except those pe- 
culiar to America: the Yak or Thi- 
bet Cow is peculiar to it, and has 
not yet been spread very far. 
All our fruit trees, all our cereal 
plants, and nearly all our culinary 
plants are also found growing wild 
in those mountains. It fwas long a 
problem whence came our Wheat, 
Barley, Maize, Rice, &c.; but they 
have lately been found there by tra- 
vellers. They all say that there, is 
found the climate with the produc- 
tions of Europe. They enumerate , 
among the wild trees and fruits, the 
Apples, Pears, Grapes, Plumbs, 
Peaches, Apricots, Raspberries, 
Strawberries, Currants, Chesnuts, 
Walnuts, Mulberries, Gooseberries, 
Almonds, Cherries, &c. &c. also, 
