406 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 



belonging to the Deb Rajah, situated two or three hundred feet above 

 our road. WooUookha is a good-sized village, and the houses are 

 very good : it is close to the river Teemboo, which drains Tassisudon 

 valley, a few miles distant to the north. There are several villages 

 around it, and a good deal of cultivation of alternating crops of bar- 

 ley, wheat, and rice. The valley, if indeed it can be so called, for 

 it is very narrow, is picturesque enough, although the surrounding 

 hills are not well wooded. The banks of the river, which here flows 

 gently enough, are well ornamented with weeping willows. 



1 \th. We continued our route following the river, the path gene- 

 rally lying down its bed, or close to it, occasionally ascending two 

 or three hundred feet above it. Halted atLomnoo, an easy march. 

 The features of the country remained the same until we neared our 

 halting-place, when woods of Pinus excelsa became very common ; 

 roses occurred in profusion, and the vegetation generally consisted of 

 shrubs; villages were tolerably frequent, and the cuckoo* was again 

 heard. 



\2th. To Chupcha. Continued for some time through a precisely 

 similar country, still following the river, but generally at some 

 height above its bed. After passing Panga, a small village at which 

 our conductors wished us to halt, although it was only six miles from 

 Somnoo, we descended gradually to the river Teemboo, and con- 

 tinued along it for some time, during which we passed the remains 

 of a suspension-bridge. After leaving Panga no villages were passed, 

 and one small one only was seen on the opposite bank of the Teem- 

 boo ; but up to the above-mentioned place the country continued 

 tolerably populous. The vegetation, until the ascent was commenced, 

 was a good deal like that about Somnoo, Pinus excelsa forming the 

 predominant feature. From the base of the ascent it became com- 

 pletely changed — oaks forming the woods, and from 7500 feet up- 

 wards, various rhododendrons occurring in profusion, mixed with 

 •wild currants, &c. We were detained at Chupcha for two days, at 

 the end of which the last coolies had scarcely arrived : it is ten miles 

 from Somnoo, and sixteen miles from Panga, and about 8100 feet in 

 elevation. The greatest ascent, and this too after a march of twelve 

 miles, must have been between 2500 and 3000 feet. We were 

 lodged comfortably in the castle, although it was not white-washed, 

 nor had it the insignia of a belt of red ochre. It is a short distance 

 from the village, which again is two or three hundred yards to the 



* The first time I heard this bird was about Punukka. Although in 

 plumage it differs a good deal from the bird so well known in Europe, yet 

 its voice is precisely similar. 



