of Soobathoo and Kotgurh. ZS 1 ? 



The winters here resemble those of Europe, but are less se- 

 vere. Frosts commence before the middle of October, and in 

 December, January, and February, snow falls, and lies in 

 shaded places to the northward, from one to three feet deep* 

 Sometimes it falls so early as the middle of November, some- 

 times also so late as the beginning of March ; but at these seasons 

 it never continues on the ground, for although, in some respects, 

 great elevation is equivalent to high geographical latitude, 

 putting the climate of Kotgurh pretty much on a par with 

 that of the south of England, yet, owing to the much greater 

 perpendicularity of the sun's rays at the former place, they 

 have very considerable power even in winter, and in exposed 

 situations the snow melts away in a few days of sunshine. The 

 air, however, continues very sharp, and frosty nights prevail 

 during the greater part of March. It is worthy of remark, 

 that the flakes of snow are here extremely large, — much larger 

 than I remember ever to have seen them in Europe. 



At Kotgurh, and places of similar elevation, spring may be 

 said to commence about the middle or latter end of March, 

 (although this depends greatly on the nature of the season,) 

 and to continue all April. May is often rude and disagree- 

 able ; if rainy, fires and woollen clothes are indispensable to 

 comfort. 



The harvest, or reaping season, commences in May, and 

 terminates about the end of June. The jow, or barley, is the 

 grain which ripens earliest. The kunuk, or wheat, and the 

 cowa jow (Hordeum caeleste,) are fully a month later. In si- 

 tuations more elevated than the neighbourhood of Kotgurh, 

 the crops are often very backward. The wheat, especially, 

 is frequently not housed till some time after the rainy season 

 has fairly set in. The consequence is that great part of the 

 grain never ripens, and the natives are obliged to reap it while 

 partially in a green immature state, (the ear being full, how- 

 ever,) in order to preserve the whole from injury and destruc- 

 tion. 



Kotgurh is surrounded on three sides by thick woods, in 

 which woods there is a number of rhododendrons, pines, and 

 oaks ; and, indeed, there are to be found in the neighbour- 



VOL. IX. NO. II. OCTOBER 1828. Q. 



