290 Dr Burke on the Establishment of' an Invalid Depot 



in ail easterly direction about a mile and a half: its direction is 

 east and west. The extent of ground, its openings, and eleva- 

 tion, pointed it out as well or best adapted for the purpose. 

 The elevation of Landour above the houses at Mussooree is 

 780 feet ; and its height above the level of the sea may be 

 about 7600 feet : there is a difference among the engineers of 

 150 feet. 



The top of Landour is covered with oaks and Rhododendra, 

 and the sides of the northern face with the Pinus lon^ifolius. 

 The peak is composed of hard quartzy sandstone : below this, 

 the sandstone is of a more granular texture, and easily separable 

 into masses for building. Clay-slate is, however, the predomi- 

 nant rock, and some has been discovered fit for slating the 

 houses. Limestone is abundant below the granular sandstone, 

 and in its vicinity heavy-spar. The springs of water are plenty, 

 and perennial, and sufficiently near to afford an abundant sup- 

 ply for every purpose, with the aid of mules and pukals. By 

 confining the water of the higher springs in cisterns, great abun- 

 dance of water will at all times be obtained, and at a very short 

 distance. But at 6000 feet elevation, there are at all seasons 

 considerable streams of water. 



It is well known that the climate of the Mussooree range is as 

 'equable throughout the year as that of any other cold climate ; 

 that it is easily and equally accessible at all seasons of the year, 

 and that the situation combines in itself a sufficient number of 

 other advantages to make it the most beneficial residence for in- 

 valids. Landour is in Latitude 30° 26i' N*, and Longitude 

 78° 4' E. The mean temperature of the year is 54°.92 ; the mean 

 temperature of April, 54|°; May, 55°; June, 67° ; July, 67°; 

 August, 66° ; September, 63° ; October, 61° ; November, 52° ; 

 Decemberj 45|°; January, 42°; February, 42i°; March, 53°; 

 and there is great equability of temperature during the day and 

 night. 



The vegetation is vigorous, and resembles the luxuriance of 

 the garden rather than the ranknes& of the jungle. Potatoes, 

 carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, onions in great perfection, beet- 

 root, nol kol, salads, &c. grow here ; and, by proper cultiva- 

 tion, and taking advantage of the northern and southern as- 

 pects, a succession of many of these may be had throughout the 



