36 SCIENTIFIC MISSION 
“Daukur, on the Piti river, north bank, Sept. 2, 1847. 
* | wrote from Rampore on the 9th ult., and have now to con- 
tinue the record of our subsequent progress. At Rampore, we 
were in the valley of the Sutlej, about 3,200 feet above the level - 
of the sea, and consequently surrounded by an almost tropical 
vegetation. Our route, for four marches, lay along the left bank 
-of the river; but, a short way beyond Rampore, we ascended to 
the level of temperate vegetation, and, generally speaking, con- 
tinued in it, though in every march there were two or three 
descents to the margins of small streams, flowing from the snowy 
mountains on our right, and which brought us down again the 
plants of low elevations. Advancing eastwards, a few species 
gradually appeared which indicated our vicinity to the dry climate 
of Kunawur. Indeed, two plants, at least, which abound in that 
country, extend down the Sutlej as far as Rampore, where the hot 
exposed river-banks seem to enable them to withstand the greater 
quantity of rain to which they are exposed. The two species 
which I mean are a Caper (I presume Capparis obovata of Royle), 
and a tall prickly-stemmed Zactuca. 
= “On the 14th, in the middle of our fifth march from Rampore, 
we crossed the Sutlej by a bridge, and pursued our course along - 
its right bank. Here the river being at an elevation of 5,200 
feet, we found ourselves beyond the usual boundary of tropical 
vegetation. Pinus excelsa grew nearly down to the bank. Still, 
from the lack of trees, the heat was great, and a few plants oc- 
cured indicative of low stations. It is difficult to define the pre- - 
cise limit, botanically speaking, of Kunawur. The change of | 
vegetation is gradual, and bears, of course, some reference to the 
diminution in the quantity of rain. On the night of the 12th, at 
Turanda, we had heavy showers; but since that time, except a 
slight sprinkling on two afternoons, the weather has been perfectly 
dry. Turanda is situated on a lateral spur of the great mountain 
range, which runs parallel to the river on the south: it is elevated 
about 8,000 feet, and covered with a beautiful forest of Deodars. 
It was not, however, till the 14th, when we passed the Sutlej, that — 
