DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20140#0533
LAHOL, KASHMIR, MARRI, IN THE HIMALAYA.
509
are frequent; but only few of them have any water in them, and this is very shallow:
such are the Vuler and Chunar lakes. The lakes now dry have been emptied by that
gradual draining effect of erosion which I had occasion to mention in describing the
environs of Kathmandu.
Such open valleys, being more exposed to the action of the sun than the
bottoms of narrow valleys, have a peculiar power in cutting off the currents of air
descending from the higher regions of snow and neve, and breaking their local effect.
Natives, however, unprotected in draughty huts, and without any substitute for a
fire-place, except a basin filled with charcoal in their rooms, occasionally suffer from
cold, but not enough to induce them to erect better habitations, notwithstanding
their technical abilities in many branches of architecture and manufacture.
The Panoramic View of Kashmir in the Atlas (Plate 18) was taken from the
"floating gardens," about in the centre of the Chunar lake, as the view from this
point could be considered to include the features here most characteristic: a lovely,
cultivated country, continuous but moderate elevations, and absence of large groups
of snowy peaks.
The scenery varies rapidly, however, as soon as we ascend one of the northern
ridges in sight, whence we see at once the chains of the western Himalaya, overtopped
in many a part by an isolated peak of Balti and Ladak.
At Marri, the principal station of the outer ranges, the total amount of rain has
decreased when it is compared with the eastern parts of the Himalaya, but its
duration is long enough—from the middle of June till the middle—frequently till the
end—of September. Even in the early part of October Marri is visited by storms
with hail or cold heavy showers.
The trees surrounding the station make it damp, more so than might have
been expected from the other conditions of its situation.
But the most important benefit of this place is the easy access to the same, for
protection from the heat of the Panjab. In the cool season many days with a mean
little differing from 32° become unpleasant to a European, even if not an invalid.1
1 For those who can enjoy a change of station also in the cool season, Raulpindi is known as one of the most
pleasant and healthy. Compare p. 294.
509
are frequent; but only few of them have any water in them, and this is very shallow:
such are the Vuler and Chunar lakes. The lakes now dry have been emptied by that
gradual draining effect of erosion which I had occasion to mention in describing the
environs of Kathmandu.
Such open valleys, being more exposed to the action of the sun than the
bottoms of narrow valleys, have a peculiar power in cutting off the currents of air
descending from the higher regions of snow and neve, and breaking their local effect.
Natives, however, unprotected in draughty huts, and without any substitute for a
fire-place, except a basin filled with charcoal in their rooms, occasionally suffer from
cold, but not enough to induce them to erect better habitations, notwithstanding
their technical abilities in many branches of architecture and manufacture.
The Panoramic View of Kashmir in the Atlas (Plate 18) was taken from the
"floating gardens," about in the centre of the Chunar lake, as the view from this
point could be considered to include the features here most characteristic: a lovely,
cultivated country, continuous but moderate elevations, and absence of large groups
of snowy peaks.
The scenery varies rapidly, however, as soon as we ascend one of the northern
ridges in sight, whence we see at once the chains of the western Himalaya, overtopped
in many a part by an isolated peak of Balti and Ladak.
At Marri, the principal station of the outer ranges, the total amount of rain has
decreased when it is compared with the eastern parts of the Himalaya, but its
duration is long enough—from the middle of June till the middle—frequently till the
end—of September. Even in the early part of October Marri is visited by storms
with hail or cold heavy showers.
The trees surrounding the station make it damp, more so than might have
been expected from the other conditions of its situation.
But the most important benefit of this place is the easy access to the same, for
protection from the heat of the Panjab. In the cool season many days with a mean
little differing from 32° become unpleasant to a European, even if not an invalid.1
1 For those who can enjoy a change of station also in the cool season, Raulpindi is known as one of the most
pleasant and healthy. Compare p. 294.