124 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 



Feb, 25th. Leaving this place, we continued winding along nearly 

 at the same altitude until we descended to the river Oonjar, which 

 drains the ravine, on the right flank of which the village is situated. 

 This river, which is of moderate size, is crossed twice within 200 

 yards. From the second bridge one of the greatest ascents we had 

 yet encountered commenced ; it was excessively steep at first, but 

 subsequently became more gradual. It only terminated with our ar- 

 rival at the halting-place, which we denominated *' St. Gothard," 

 but which is known by the name Peemee. Its elevation is about 

 9700 feet, and we had ascended from the bridge as much as 4350 

 feet. Snow commenced at 7500 feet, and became heavy at 8500 

 feet. 



Feb. 26M. We continued the ascent through heavy snow. For the 

 first 1000 feet it was easy enough, but after that increased much in 

 difliculty. Great part of the path was built up faces of sheer pre- 

 cipices. The remainder of the ascent was very gradual, but con- 

 tinued for about 1^ mile ; and I consider the actual pass from which 

 we commenced descending to be at least 12,600 feet. The descent 

 was at first very rapid, passing down the bold face of the mountain, 

 which was covered entirely with stout shrubby rhododendrons. We 

 then descended gradually through a line wood of the black fir. On 

 recommencing the steep descent we passed over swardy patches sur- 

 rounded by fiir woods, and we continued through similar tracts until 

 within 1 000 feet of our halting- place, to which we descended over 

 bare sward. From the summit of Rodoola a brief gleam of sun- 

 shine gave us a bird's-eye view of equally lofty ridges running in 

 every direction, all covered with heavy snow. The vegetation of the 

 ascent was very varied, the woods consisting of oaks, rhododendrons, 

 and bamboos, up to nearly 11,000 feet. Beyond this the chief tree 

 was the black fir ; junipers, alpine polygonums, a species of rhubarb, 

 and many other alpine forms presented themselves in the shape of 

 the withered remains of the previous season of active vegetation. 

 That on the descent was less varied, the trees being nearly limited 

 to three species of pines, of which the black fir scarcely descended 

 below 11,600 feet, when it was succeeded by a more elegant larch- 

 like species, which I believe is Pinus Smithiajia ; this again ceased 

 towards an altitude of 9500 feet, when its place was occupied by 

 Pinus excelsa, now a familiar form. We found Bhoomlungtung to 

 occupy a portion of rather a fine valley. The valley is for the most 

 part occupied by wheat fields, but the prospect of a crop appeared 

 to me very faint. Two or three villages occur close to Bhoomlung- 

 tung. The tillage was better than any we had seen, the fields being 



