&34 Captain Gerard on the climate and agriculture 



are covered on their northern faces witli large pines of the 

 common species, shrubs, and bushes. 



The neighbourhood of Soobathoo, considering all things, 

 and especially the oppressive treatment experienced by the in- 

 habitants under the Goorkha rule, is rather populous, and the 

 surrounding flats and slopes are highly cultivated. -The coun- 

 try is studded with numerous, though for the most part small 

 villages, few of them containing more than from four to six, 

 twelve, or fifteen houses or families. The number of the villages 

 has increased to an astonishing degree since Soobathoo became 

 a military post, and subject to British jurisdiction. 



The appearance of the country is pleasing to the eye of a 

 stranger, though differing widely from that of the interior. 

 The climate is extremely agreeable, the mean temperature 

 being no higher than about 65°. During May and June it is 

 sometimes rather hot ; but it seldom becomes what is called op- 

 pressive in a house. Taking it all in all, it is very healthy 

 throughout the year. Fevers and rheumatisms are the pre- 

 dominant complaints ; the latter prevail most in the cold wea- 

 ther, the former during the periodical rains, (which commence 

 towards the end of June), and generally whenever the weather 

 is damp or subject to sudden changes. Cases of fever, how- 

 ever, are remarkably few here compared to the plains. When 

 the winter is rigorous snow falls in January and February to 

 the depth of about four inches; but it seldom lies on the 

 ground above two or three days, in consequence of the low and 

 exposed situation of the country, and the power of the sun's 

 rays. Hoar frosts commence in November, and vanish about 

 the beginning or middle of March. In severe seasons, during 

 the latter part of December, January, and the early part of 

 February, standing water freezes to a considerable thickness. 

 The season of the rains, which, generally speaking, are rather 

 heavy, terminates sometimes about the middle or end of Sep- 

 tember, at other times not till beyond the middle of October. 



The country around Soobathoo is much cultivated, and 

 agriculture carried on to a considerable extent, and this is rapidly 

 on the increase wherever the inhabitants from the adjacent 

 states, who are often obliged to fly from the tyranny and op- 



