THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 27 
Himalaya, and in Siberia. The European species which have been identified are 
Thymus Serpyllum, Origanum vulgare, Prunella vulgaris, Polemonium ceruleum. 
If, instead of keeping on mountain tops, we descend into the vallies on their northern 
face, we shall observe that, with many of the phenomena peculiar to such localities, 
there is considerable modification in the vegetation of each, according to elevation and 
latitude. The valley of Cashmere, situated between the thirty-fourth and . thirty- 
fifth parallels of latitude, in the most northern part of the Himalaya, and to which we 
descend from the snow-clad summit of Peerpunjal, is described as being of an oval 
form, encircled by mountains clothed with vegetation, which are themselves girded by a 
higher range covered with snow. The level of the vailey is of considerable extent, being 
about sixty miles in length, and about forty in breadth in the widest part ; its elevation is 
estimated by the late lamented traveller M. Jacquemont to be from five thousand two 
hundred and forty-eight to five thousand five hundred and seventy-six feet; he how- 
ever states that the beauty of this valley has been much exaggerated, both by his 
countryman Bernier and by Mr. Forster. But there is no doubt that, in consequence 
of its being copiously watered by numerous streams, lakes, and canals, there is consi- 
derable moisture both of soil and climate, and almost constant verdure ; while the nume- 
rous gardens, and the great variety of fruit-trees and of beautiful flowers, must always 
strike visitors from the arid plains of India, whether Europeans, as Bernier and Forster, 
or Asiatics, as Abul Fuzl. From the mixed nature of the cultivation the climate must 
evidently be mild and temperate, for even in the warmest months of summer the breezes 
which descend at night from the mountains are always cool and pleasant ; the periodical 
rains consist of gentle showers, and the snows which fall in winter cannot remain long 
upon the ground. Abul Fuzl says that it rains and snows here at the same season 
as in Tartary and Persia; and that during the periodical rains in Hindoostan light 
showers only fall here, though with great violence on the mountains which form the 
barrier to the south-east. | 
From the northern latitude and great.elevation of the valley of Cashmere, we are not 
surprised at finding in its flora a great resemblance to that of European countries; but 
the moisture of the climate, and its mild temperature in the season of vegetation, causes 
so great an extension of the herbaceous parts, as well as of the flowers of plants, that 
many of them rival in luxuriance those of tropical countries.. The mildness and moisture 
of the climate is indicated by the extensive cultivation of rice, as well as by the success- 
fal cultivation of the Cucurbitacee, as no where are there finer and larger melons, water- 
melons, gourds, and cucumbers. The kidney bean, though not common in the gardens 
of the north-western provinces, thrives remarkably well in Cashmere, as well as the egg- 
plant and the capsicum. The lakes abound with Zrophis bispinosa, and species of 
Nymphaea and Menyanthes. The existence of hemp and of f species of balsam, of marsh-, 
tree-, and common mallow, all indicate a temperate climate, as do the cultivation of 
wheat, barley, and saffron, together with the culture in their gardens of such European 
vegetables as turnip, radish, beet-root, and cabbage; and the usage of clover as fodder 
2 for 
a 
_ 
