368 DE. O. WATT OX THE VEGETATION OF 



Notes on the Vegetation &c. of Chumba State and British 

 LahouJ^ with Descriptions of New Species*. By George 

 Watt, M.D., CM., F.L.S., Professor of Botany, Bengal 

 Educational Service. 



[Bead November 4, 1880.] 

 (Plates IX.-XIV.) 



Remarks on the Physical Features of the Country traversed. 

 Towards its western extremity the vast Himalayan chain divides 

 into many approximately parallel ranges. Starting from the 

 upper valley of the Sutlej, and passing from north-west to south- 

 east, these ranges are separated by deep well-defined valleys, 

 from which the Indus obtains its five Punjab streams. To 

 the south of the Indus valley proper, the ranges are collec- 

 tively known as the Outer or higher Himalayas ; and the three 

 visited by me may be conveniently referred to as the First, Second, 

 and Third ranges. 



I. The Fibst Eange. — Being nearest the plains of India, this 

 is the one upon which the British sanitaria (Dalhousie, Simla, 

 &c.) are situated. Prom it spurs are given off" having a more or 

 less southerly direction, and becoming lower and lower as they 

 approach the plains. So also to the north, or rather north-east, 

 spurs are thrown out, becoming gradually lower and lower into the- 

 Eavee valley. The Pirst Range and its spurs and low detached 

 hills thus stand between the Upper Eavee basin and the plains. 

 Having toiled for two or three days, I found myself on the 

 summit of the First Eange, which varies in altitude from 8000 

 to 14,000 feet above the level of the sea. Looking southward, 

 the plains may be seen in the far distance, and the sterile hills 

 of loose conglomerate, fissured by denudation, appear as if thrown 

 away from the whinstone rocks that have burst through them* 

 Looking forward and down into the valley of the Eavee, spur after 

 spur at right angles again and again mingle and intermingle in utter 

 confusion, sinking to the depths of the Eavee basin, and gather- 

 ing themselves up, rise higher and higher, series above series, 



* [This communication, when read, was entitled " Contributions to the Flora 

 of the North-western Himalayas ;" but at the suggestion and by leave of the 

 Council its scope has been somewhat modified, and the title changed accord 

 ingly. — Ed.] 



