14 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF 
herbacea occurring in the valley within the hills, and the last also in the Kheree Pass. 
Bamboos are common at the foot of the hills, and the plantain seems to be wild 
in some places. It is not the least interesting feature in the Flora of the northern 
portion of this tract that the palms here attain their highest limits, a species of 
Calamus being found in the valley itself; and a Phenix, which I have called humilis, 
from its never attaining above a few feet of elevation, exists alongside of the Pinus 
longifolia, which is the only one of the Indian Conifere found at so low an elevation 
as two thousand feet. The existence of European and tropical forms in juxtaposition 
is an interesting fact for the Geologist, particularly when it is considered that the 
vicinity of lofty hills affords a still greater number of the former, while the valley 
is filled with the latter. 
That it is not, however, devoid of other characteristics of a more temperate cli- 
: mate, we observe, from finding species, generally only single ones, of the following 
genera: Pinus, Ulmus, Salix, Gentiana, Campanula, Geranium, Rosa, Rubus, Cle- 
matis, Viola, and Galium. 
That similar vegetation characterises the forests further to the eastward may be seen 
in the accounts, by General Hardwicke and Mr. Traill, of that passed through in 
entering Kemaon, which is described by the latter as consisting of Saul, Sissoo, and 
bamboos, and called in Bishop Heber’s Journal “ the belt of death.” If we pro- 
ceed still further in the same direction, the low land lying between Nipal and 
the plains of India will be found of the same nature, both with regard to climate 
and vegetation. Dr. Buchanan describes it as hot and unhealthy, the vegetation the 
same as in other parts of India, and similar to what we have already seen charac- 
- terizing the tract between the Ganges and Jumna. Bounding this on the north is a 
region of nearly the same breadth, consisting of small hills covered with numerous 
trees, which, according to Dr. B., resemble those of Goalpara; and from the instances 
given, likewise those found in the hills near Hurdwar, as we find among them Saud, 
Sissoo, Toon, Catechu, and Pinus longifolia. The nature of the vegetation in the most 
southern part of this tract has already been indicated as occurring in the districts 
of Silhet and Chittagong, where the several Palms are found with the Tree-fern. 
As in ascending mountains, the same decrease of temperature is observed as in 
receding from the equator, so do we observe a similar change in vegetation; and it has 
been remarked, that the same families and genera which approach nearest to the poles, 
are those which attain the highest elevations in mountainous regions. This is no 
where better exemplified than when we depart from the tropical vegetation of the plains 
of India, and passing through the intermediate changes which may be observed in 
proceeding from the equator to either pole, we attain a moderate elevation, and find a 
mild temperature, with the climate and many of the productions, both of the animal 
and vegetable kingdoms, of the temperate zone. At a still greater elevation, where 
from the late melting of the snow in summer, and its early fall in autumn, the season 
of vegetation is as short as in polar regions, we have in place of either an Indian or 
a European 
