Polygonea.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 815 
in April and May, from the clefts of rocks in high and arid mountains surrounding 
lake Kokonor. Bell also learnt that it was the produce of Mongolia, and Marco Polo, 
of Succuir, in Tanguth. Dr. Rehman ascertained that the trade is in the hands of one 
Bucharian family, who farm the monopoly from the Chinese government, and reside at 
Si-ning, a Chinese town on the very frontiers of Tibet, 3,000 verstes from Kiakhta, 
and twenty days’ journey from Kian-sin and Schan-sin, Tangutian towns, where the 
Bucharians go to purchase Rhubarb. This would bring the Rhubarb country within 
95° of E. long. in 35° of N. latitude, that is, into the heart of Tibet. As no naturalist 
has visited this part, and neither seeds nor plants have been obtained thence, it is 
as yet unknown what species yields this Rhubarb. Pallas thinks it may be R. com- 
pactum, as the leaves are said to be round and toothed; the Rhubarb merchants, 
to whom he showed the plant, did not know R. palmatum. Both these were obtained 
from China and Tatary, as well as R. tataricum and undulatum. It is probable, therefore, 
that some of these yield a portion of the Rhubarb of commerce, as they have some 
of very good quality, when cultivated in England and France. But as it is impro- 
bable, from the nature of the country, that the best Rhubarb is confined within 
. very natrow limits, it becomes interesting to ascertain how near it approaches the 
British territories in India, in order to share in the trade, or attempt the cultivation. 
That this might very reasonably be undertaken within the British territories, will be 
apparent from the distribution of Rhubarb in the Himalayas. Passing from Hindoo- 
khoosh, where is found Rheum Ribes (ribas of the Persians), mentioned by Chardin, 
&c., more recently by Lieut. Burnes, who also met with Rhubarb at Caubul and 
Bokhara; we find Rhubarb common in the Himalayas, as on Choor, near Jumnotree, 
on Jacho in Kemaon, Gossainthan in Nepal, and near Tassisudon in Butan, that is, 
from 30° to 27°, and from E. long. 79° to 89°, and at elevations of 9,000 and 10,000 
- feet. Mr. Moorcroft discovered Rhubarb at Niti, and next day between Niti and 
Gotung, that is, at elevations of 12,000 feet. His companion, Major Hearsay, thought 
he saw three kinds, and has described two of them to Mme, one round-leaved and long- : 
stalked, and the other short-stalked, but large and broad-leaved (2. Moorcroftianum, 
nob.), with the root more purgative than that of the former. These are called doelooh 
or dooloo by the Bhoteas, and tantara (Webb), rantra (Hearsay). One of these appears 
to be the Rhubarb described by Dr. Meisner under the name R. Emodi (R. Webbianum, 
nob.), which differs from the original R. Emodi, described by Mr. Don under the name 
R. Australe. If we turn our attention to the northern face of the Himalaya, which has 
so many features of a Tatarian climate, we find R. spiciforme, nob., discovered by Mr. 
Inglis on the Kherang Pass, and at several places beyond. Dr. Gerard describes the 
table-land of Tatary as covered with Rhubarb, at elevations of 16,000 feet. Mr. Moor- 
croft sent some Rhubarb, which for compactness of texture, colour, and properties, was 
as fine as any I have ever seen, from near Ludak, in N. lat. 34°, and E. long. 773°. 
But these are only the western boundaries of the elevated, cold, and bleak regions, 
known under the names of Tatary, Mongolia, and Tibet, of which Kunawur is essen- 
22 tially 
