TO THIBET. 35 
little more than 3,000 feet above the sea. The change of tempera. 
ture was very great, and that of vegetation equally striking. The 
thermometer rose considerably above ninety degrees; and from 
Oaks and Pines we found ourselves among Dalbergia Sissoo, 
Euphorbia pentagona, and other tropical plants, with Mangoes, 
Plantains, &e., in the gardens. The valley of the Sutlej is exces- 
sively bare, and, except round the villages, scarce a tree can be seen. 
I was surprised to find, amongst the hill-plants which descend 
into the valley, some of the most peculiarly European forms,—for 
instance, Geranium, Plantago, Bupleurum, and another Umbelli- 
Jera, Agrimonia, Chenopodium, and Labiate, grow at the same 
elevation with Cassia Tora, and American Side, Mollugo, Trium- 
fetta; and other plants. Altogether, the journey through the valley, 
though very hot, has been exceedingly interesting. 
* Rampoor, whence I now write, is a place of considerable size, 
for the hills, and carries on a flourishing trade to and from the 
Chinese territories, shawl-wool being the principal import. To- 
morrow, we re-ascend to upwards of 6,000 feet, and may expect, 
therefore, a cool climate again, and different plants. Our future 
progress will probably be uninterrupted for some time. At the 
fifth march from hence, we shall cross the Sutlej, make six or 
seven marches along its right bank, then turn north at Kanum 
and Sonngum, across the Hungarung Pass, up the valley of the 
Spiti river, to where it is joined by the river Para, up which we 
shall travel to its source, near the Chumooreleel lake, where we D 
expect to arrive about the 5th of September. : 
“ I do not, at present, like to venture on any further ipods * 
tion either of route or time. When we meet our friends the 
Chinamen, we shall probably be able to form an idea. The  - : : 
season of seeds will be at its height, when we are in the high — 
regions of Tartary ; and I think it may be worth while trying to send —— 
some home to you, if I meet with anything likely to prove orna- 
mental or useful. I may probably have the opportunity of seeing — 
some of the species of Rhubarb, and, at all events, will do my 
= best to ascertain the history and = of npo of this — : 
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