1 



ME. M. P. EDGEWOBTH ON THE FLOKA OF BAl^DA. 305 



of tlie Asiatic Society * in 1850. But now that I have had the 

 opportunity of collating my specimens with those of the herbarium 

 at Kew, I find so many errors or changes in names, that I think 

 it advisable to lay this corrected list before the Society. 



The district of Banda forms an irregular triangle, bounded on 

 the north and north-east by the river Jumna, on the west and 

 south-west principally by the river Ken (or Cane), and to the south 

 by the second ridge of low hills, forming the flank of the tableland 

 of Bundelcund. 



The actual area is 2174 square miles. Lat. 25° 10' to 26° ; 

 long. 80^ 20' to 81*^ 50'. The elevation above the sea is from 450 

 to 1500 feet. The highest trigonometrical station is 1519| feet. 



The northern portion of the district is flat, but seamed with 

 deep ravines and the courses of the numerous small rivers which 

 run parallel to the Ken and into the Jumna (such as the Bag- 

 bin, Pysani and others), with remarkable isolated rocks of 

 granite or syenite, which rise like islands in the surrounding level 

 plain of black soil, like those described by Humboldt in his ' Asie 

 Centrale.' 



The general aspect of the country is extremely fertile, and, in 

 the southern and eastern portion, exceedingly beautiful — rich 

 cultivated plains, dotted with noble trees, solitary or in groves, 

 broken with rugged hills, and occasionally with large tanks or 

 clear streams. 



The southern portion of the district is hilly, termed Patha, less 

 fertile, and much overrun with jungle (principally Acacia catechu- 

 oides)^ with a shallow soil on a sandstone substratum. It is 

 diversified with hills, and, though less rich, it is by no means de- 

 void of beauty. 



There are fine waterfalls (in the rainy season) ; and in these 

 chasms we find a few mosses and ferns, which are also to be found 

 at the mouth of a very remarkable hole, called Biradhkund, in the 

 tableland. It resembles a gigantic well or shaft of a mine, about 

 203 feet in diameter, and estimated at GOO or 700 feet in depth. 

 Uufortunately I never had an opportunity of returning to the 

 spot to make further examination and measurement. A friend, 

 who afterwards went at my request, was prevented by the swarms 

 of bees, which build their hives on almost all the scarped rocks of 

 the country, and which fringe the hole. 



This list by no means forms a complete flora of the district, as 

 I had no means of exploring the further portions in the rainy 

 season, when, of course, the most remarkable flowers would be 



