FLORA OF TIBET OR HIGH ASIA. 141 
abounds in geological and botanical information, which is repeated 
in a more digested form in the Introduction to the ‘ Flora 
Indica.’ 
Starting from Simla on the second of August, 1847, the 
Mission to which Thomson was attached travelled up the valley 
of the Sutlej river to its junction with the Piti, across the State 
of Piti, over the Parang Pass and north-eastward to the Indus, 
the course of which was followed, with a detour in Zanskar, to 
Leh. Thence northward to Nubra and down the Shayuk river 
to its junction with the Indus and onward to Iskardo. On the 
second of December they left Iskardo in the direction of 
Kashmir, by way of the Indus and Sind to Dras, where they 
were stopped by the snow. They returned to Iskardo, where 
they wintered. In February, 1848, an excursion was made down 
the Indus to Rondu, the most north-westerly point reached— 
about 75° and 35° 25’. They again returned to Iskardo, and 
then went southward to Kashmir and Janu, on a tributary of 
the Chenab river and again north-eastward, across the Upper 
Chenab valley and Zanskar, to Kalatze, on the Indus, and then 
on to Leh. Thence by way of Nubra, to Karakorum Pass, in 
about 77° 40’ and 35° 35’. The return journey was by way 
of Leh, Kalatze, Kargil, Zoji Pass, and. Kashmir to Lahore. 
Taking Thomson’s map, the country traversed in various 
directions would be between 75° and 78° and 31° and 35° 35’. 
Dr. (Sir Joseru) D. Hooker. 88° 45’; 28°. 1849. 
Entered Tibet, in October, 1849, from the northern boundary 
of Independent Sikkim, in about 88° 45’ and 28°. He twice 
ascended Mount Bhomtso (18,500 ft.) not far from the frontier, 
where, however, the climate, and consequently the flora, is that 
of dry Tibet. The botanical results were poor, the number of 
species gathered in two days’ journey amounting to only fifteen 
or twenty. They are almost identical with those from equal 
elevations (16,000 to 18,000 ft.) in West Tibet. “A stunted 
Lonicera and Urtica being the prevalent species at 16,000 ft., 
with creeping Carices in the sand, and tufted plants of Alsinee, 
Draba, Androsace, Oaytropis chiliophylla, Sedum, Saxifraga, 
and grasses and sedges, most of which ascend to 18,000 ft. The 
curious genus Thylacospermum forms hard, hemispherical mounds 
on the stony soil, and is one of the most conspicuous features of 
the flora. The ground was everywhere there covered with an 
efflorescence of carbonate of soda, and the pools of water were 
