be confined to such a general glance at the subject as will sufficeto place the narratives in their due relative positions, and toexplain all circumstances relating to them directly or indirectly. Another object will be to furnish references, in their properorder, through which this important subject may be more thoroughly studied and understood; and thus, in some measure, to assist in replacing and restoring those foundations of a great policy which the genius of Warren Hastings had laid, but which subsequent neglect has destroyed.
The Himálayan system is composed of three great culminating chains, running more or less parallel to each other for their whole length, from the gorge of the Indus to that of the Dihong; and the lofty region of Great Tibet lies mainly between the inner and outer range, with the Central Chain, whence most of the rivers of northern India take their rise, running through its length. It is with the portion of the Himalayan region which includes Great- Tibet and the countries between it and the plains of India, that the narratives composing this volume have to do; and, therefore, the introductory remarks will be mainly confined to that portion.
The inner and most northern of the three ranges is naturally divided into a western and an eastern section. The western is known as the Karakorum Range, separating the valley of the Indus from that of the Yarkand Eiver and other streams belonging to the inland system of Lob-nor. It has vast glaciers and lofty peaks, including that called K 2, which is 28,000 feet above the sea,[1] while it is traversed by passes of great height,
such as the Ghang-chenmo, 19,000 feet,[2] and the Karakorum,18,000 feet above the sea. The sources of three great rivers are on the southern slopes of the northern range, and forcing their way through the central and southern chains, they reach the plains of India: namely, the Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra.
