Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/250

46 with the wheat. At the time of my visit they were green. Hay is made towards the end of August, and is put up in large cocks on all the large blocks about, whilst all the house-tops are covered in like manner. The fodder is excellent, containing a good deal of lucern.

I now proceeded to survey the Basha branch of the Shigar River, The skin-raft from Shigar being still in camp and the manjis (boatmen) having found a good place for crossing the river, opposite the village of Yūno, I left Tandoro on the 28th of August, and landed safely at the village of Kaiyu, in Goobalpur. The villages passed on the right bank of the Shigar are well irrigated from the small glaciers of the second order, which lie on the ridges about the Peak B 21. They are also well wooded, the walnut-trees especially being very fine.

Next morning the Mountain of Koser Gunge, opposite to us, formed a beautiful sight from its fresh whitewashing. Rain with wind kept sweeping in heavy storms down the Basha River during the day; but we managed by evening to reach Chūtrun, passing on our way over a very difficult piece of ground near the village of Tsogo by means of ladders and planks. A recent inundation had wrought great changes about the village of Tisir, having destroyed all the cultivation near the stream, which now lay buried beneath sand and detritus, with blocks of large size. Some eight or ten houses had also been completely covered, and large trees had been torn away by their roots. The villagers said that it had been caused by the bursting of a glacier lake that took place in the month of July: part of the village of Koshūmŭl, on the left bank of this same river, had also been swept away, owing to an unusually wet season, causing “shwās ” in the ravines. I was glad to find that some improvements had been made near the hot spring at this place (Chūtrun), and that a neat little bungalow had been built for the use of the visitors. The hot spring here (temperature 110° Fahr.), gives the name to the village, from “chu,” water, and “trun,” hot. The water is as clear as crystal, and without any taste or smell. The valley from Chūtrun upwards towards Arundu, in respect of its picturesque beauty, may be said to surpass everything on this side Skardo, ending off as it does in the glorious glacier of the Chogo Loombah. The villages are well wooded, standing on the lower slopes amidst groups of fine walnut-trees. A kind of arbele poplar also grows here, but the apricot does not thrive; and though apples and pears ripen, they are of inferior kinds. The whole of the road to Arundu is excellent travelling. This adds greatly to the inducements which this valley offers to visitors, and it is well worth visiting by all such as may reach Skardo.