Page:Narratives of the Mission of George Bogle to Tibet (1879).djvu/36

Rh laurels, rhododendrons, cherry and pear trees, thorns, ashes, and elms; and the upper region is that of junipers, larches, yews, poplars, dwarf rhododendrons, hollies, birches, and willows. The fauna is also divided into zones of altitude; and Mr. Hodgson has given us an interesting account of the zoological distribution.

In the direction of its length the Indian slope of that part of the Himalaya of which we now have to treat is properly divided according to its river basins. Commencing from the east, Nepal embraces the Karnali (or Ghagra), Grandak, and Kosi river systems, all aflBuents of the Ganges. Sikkim has the Tista and Am-machu, or Tursa, rivers ; and Bhutan is traversed by the feeders of the Minagaon, Sankos, Monass, and Lopra-cachu, or Subanshiri.

In the west of Nepal, the Karnali system consists of the rivers Kali (or Sarda), Sweti-ganga, Karnali, Bhei, Sarju, and Rapti. Their sources lie between the Nanda-deri (25,693 feet) and the Dawala-giri Peak (27,693 feet) ; and in this part of the main ridge one pass is known, leading from Nepal to Tibet, along the gorge of the Karnali river, by Taklakhar, in the Tibetan province of Ari. Both the Kali and Karnali rise in the Central Himalaya, and force their way through the Southern Chain. The upper zone of the Karnali basin (Ghagra) is occupied by the district of Jumla or Yumilla. Lower down is the country of the fornyer Baisi (or twenty-two) Rajahs, and the streams unite in the plain to form the Ghagra (Gogra).

Central Nepal embraces the river system of the "Sapt Gandaki," or seven Gandak rivers, called the Narayani, Seti-Gandak, Marsyanghi, Buria Gandak, Tirsuli Gandak, and two others of less importance. Their sources lie between the peaks of Dawala-giri (27,600 feet) and Dayabung (23,762 feet), and they converge to one pointn ear Lora Ghat, within the hills, and flow down to the Ganges as the Gandak river. Four of these rivers, namely, the Kali Gandak, Karnali Gandak, Buria