Graminee. ] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 423 
be considered as a boon, conferred on these districts by the hand of a bountiful Provi- 
dence.* 
The pastures of the various plains of India might probably be much, and at the same 
time easily improved, by the introduction of some of the pasture-grasses of Brazil, which 
are of a gigantic stature, and perfectly tender and delicate. Nees von Esenbeck, as 
quoted by Dr. Lindley, informs us that the Coapim de Angola of Brazil, Panicum specta- 
bile, grows six or seven feet high; while other equally gigantic species constitute the 
field crops on the banks of the Amazons. 
The base of the Himalayas, we have noticed, is clothed with a dense grass jungle, 
among which species of Saccharum, and Andropogon, are the most conspicuous and 
the tallest, but when full grown, necessarily too coarse to serve either for pasture 
or for hay; they are, therefore, yearly burnt down, after which the young blade 
springs up, affording excellent pasture for herds of cattle. As we ascend the 
mountains, tropical forms gradually disappear, and those of temperate regions take 
their place, while at certain elevations, where the cold of winter is severe, and the 
temperature of the rainy season equable and moist, at the same time moderately 
high, we find many species of grasses, of tropical genera, perfectly at home, in situ- 
ations which are, in winter, covered with snow; but as those elevations have their 
own peculiar species belonging to European genera, which are able to withstand the 
' winter’s cold, there is at all times abundant pasture in the neighbourhood of most of 
the Himalayan villages, and according to the season of the year the sheep, and cattle, 
are driven to different ranges and elevations. The sward upon these mountains is 
exactly like, though somewhat more luxuriant, than that met with in the mountains 
of Scotland, or of Wales; and the sheep and cattle fed on them have the fineness and 
flavour of those fed on grain in the plains of India. : 
The grasses in the Himalayas we have seen belong to such genera as (Agrostis); Fox- 
tail grass, (Alopecurus); Cat’s-tail, (Phleum); Meadow-grass, (Poa); Fescue, Festuca, 
Cock’s-foot, (Dactylis) ; Bent-grass, (Agrostis); Oat-grass, (Avena); Bromus, and others, 
which are equally characteristic of European meadows and pastures ; but it is still more 
important, that many of the very species, which are accounted the best pasture-grasses in 
England, are among those found in the Himalayas ; as, for instance, Cock’s-foot grass, 
(Dactylis glomerata) ; ; Annual, Narrow-leaved; and Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass, Poa 
annua, 
* From native information it appears that there are two kinds of Nuth, one called Koondara, in the varus, 
or black soil ; the other Gurukor (Panicum dactylon, Lin.) in the mudub or mixed soil. The former is styled 
pudava (ship), when the large plough, with twelve bullocks, is required to eradicate it. When in detached 
spots, it is styled gumpa (basket), and may be removed by. wudas, and other labourers, with pick-axes. The 
charge for digging out Nuth, is from one, to one and a half rupee, for a piece of ground eight yards long, two. 
broad, and four and a half deep. If the Nuth does not exceed one-tenth of the land, no cowle or remission is 
granted. If one-fourth, the assessment on the Nuth portion is remitted, but no cowle granted. From one- 
quarter to one-half, besides the remission, a cowle is granted for clearing it. The remission granted on account 
of waste from Nuth, in one village, in fuzly 1242, amounted to Rupees 163. 7.2; viz. gumpa nuth, Rupees 
97.11; pudava nuth 66.6.3. 
* 
