(_b_) _Baltistan._ In Baltistan, which lies to the N.W. of Ladakh, they are Muhammadans and there is much more pressure on the soil. They are a cheery race and very fond of polo. To support their families the men have to work as carriers on the roads to Leh and Gilgit. They tend the cattle in the pastures, keep the irrigation channels and the walls of the terraced fields in repair, and do the ploughing. The rest of the work of cultivation is left to the women. The climate is very severe and most of the rivers are frozen in winter. On the other hand near the Indus on the Skardo plain (7250 feet) and in the Rondu gorge further west, the heat is intense in July and August. The dreary treeless stony Deosai Plains on the road to Kashmir have an elevation of 13,000 feet. The cultivation and crops are much the same as in Ladakh. Excellent fruit is grown, and there is a considerable export of apricots. Gold washing is carried on with profit. Ladakh and Baltistan together form the Ladakh _wazarat_, divided into the three _tahsils_ of Ladakh, Kargil, and Skardo. (_c_) _Astor and Gilgit._--Where the Gilgit road from Kashmir descends from the Burzil pass (13,500 feet) the country of Astor is reached. It is drained by the Astor river, which joins the Indus to the south of Bunji. The bridge which crosses it at Ramghat is only 3800 feet above sea level. The village of Astor itself is at a height of 7853 feet. The cultivation is of the same description as that in Baltistan. The aspect of the country is bleak till the Indus is crossed, and Gilgit (4890 feet) is reached. Here there is a fertile well-watered oasis from which on every side great mountain peaks are visible. The lands are heavily manured. Rice, maize, millet, buckwheat, cotton, wheat, barley, rape, and lucerne are grown. There is a second and easier road to Gilgit from India over the Babusar pass at the top of the Kagan Glen in Hazara. But the posts are sent by the Kashmir road. The Astoris and Gilgitis are a simple easy-going folk, and, like the Baltis, very fond of polo. A British Political Agent is stationed at Gilgit. He is responsible to the Government of India for the administration of Hunza, Nagar, and Yasin, and of the little republics in the neighbourhood of Chilas. Hunza and Nagar lie to the north of Gilgit near the junction of the Muztagh and Hindu Kush ranges, and Yasin far to the west about the upper waters of the Gilgit river. [Illustration: Fig. 142. Zojila Pass (page 12).]