immediately to the west of Horpa or Gurmen Cho.* The extent of the deposit I could not definitely ascertain, but its depth was certainly 12 feet, probably more. Interspersed among the weed were many thin layers of blue
* A large mass of these plants, which are probably several thousand years old, was submitted to Dr. A. B. Rendle, M.A., D.Sc., of the British Museum, who has kindly favoured me with his opinion, viz.:-
" The dry water-plants referred to consist of dusty masses of short broken lengths of the grass-like leaves of Zostera marina, Linn., the Grasswrack. Its identity is put beyond question by the presence of a few fruits still protected by the spathe. The Grasswrack is a marine flowering plant widely distributed on temperate coasts ; its slender ribbon-like bright green leaves are a common object on our shores. Captain Deasy's discovery of remains of this plant at these high altitudes is of much interest. There is no record of its occurrence in Central Asia. It occurs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and on the north-east coast of Asia, while a smaller species, Zostera nana, is found in the Caspian Sea.
" Glaux maritima, Linn., and Triglochin ?naritimum, Linn., both of which occur in Captain Deasy's list, are similar examples of maritimal plants with a north temperate distribution occurring at high altitudes in Central Asia. Their presence may be explained by a former connection with the Mediterranean basin, indicated by the band of tertiary marine deposits stretching eastwards from the Alps to the Himalayas, and occurring at Leh at a -height of 21,000 feet.
" As to the age of the deposits of Zostera and blue shaly clay it is impossible to hazard a guess. From their appearance these plant-remains might be only a few years .
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