1 PUNJAB. 117
2 No two regions can differ more in physical character than the
3 northern and southern part of this territory. The former is
4 throughout a maze of mountains, in general covered with perpetual
5 snow, and in many places rising into summits not inferior in ele-
6 vation to any of which there are ascertained measurements. Thus,
7 the height of the mountains on the left bank of the Indus in
8 Rupshu and in the north of Spiti is fixed by Gerard’s5 observa- * Koonawur, 6.
9 tion at 27,000 feet, and has been considered by Vigne® to be not ° Kashmir, ti. 340
10 less than 30,000. These vast masses may be classed into two
11 groups; the southern constituting the western extremity of the
12 Himalaya; the northern separated from the former by the great
13 valley of the Indus, and known as the eastern part of the Hindoo
14 Koosh, or by the names of Kouenlun, Mooz Taugh, and Karako-
15 rum. Of these, the southern or Himalayan group has, in conse-
16 quence of the contact of European civilization, been the better ex-
17 plored, and more full and accurate particulars of its vast elevation
18 have been registered. The statements made with regard to the
19 greatest height of the northern group are vague and unsatisfac-
20 tory. For instance, Vigne,” who reached the actual elevation of 7 14.35.
21 16,000 feet in the mountains of Nubra, reports his having seen
22 from thence that ‘the snowy sierra of the Muztak, extending
23 from Hunzeh to Nubra, arose with conspicuous and most majestic
24 grandeur.”
25 ‘The western Himalaya, or southern group, seen from the
26 plain of the eastern Punjab, appears an unbroken chain of
27 snow-clad summits, surpassing in majestic effect those rising
28 farther east, between Undes and Hindostan.® Yet, on closer ® F. von Huge,
29 examination, these stupendous ranges are found to embosom ener e107
30 many extensive and fertile valleys, forming the hill states of
31 Kulu, Lahoul, and several others. In this fange Hiigel® mentions ® 1g, 157-165.
32 the following, occurring in the direction from east to west, as pre-
33 eminent in height and grandeur :—the Mori, the Sansh range,
34 the Buldawa, the Tricota, and the Ratan Panjal. The heights of
35 none of these appear to be accurately determined, with the excep-
36 tion of that of the Ratan Punjal, which reaches 11,600 feet.! ! P. Von Hugel,
37 Westward still are the mountains in Kashmir, in few places ex- * .
38 ceeding 15,000 or 16,000 feet.* The mountains in general
39 diminish in height as they stretch westward towards the valley,
40 through which the Indus flows to the south; yet close to the
41 * See Kashmir, table of heights.