Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 123 



Feb. 18th. After arriving 1 at the Koosee the country became bar- 

 ren, resembling much that about Tassgong, and the only cultivation 

 we passed in this portion of the march was some rice along the bed 

 of that river. The village itself is a poor one, most of the inhabi- 

 tants being quartered in the castle. We had an interview with the 

 Soobah in an open place close to the village ; it was conducted with 

 much less state than that at Tassgong. We found the Soobah to be . 

 very young, in fact almost a boy ; he behaved civilly and without 

 any pretension. There is but little cultivation about this place, 

 which is 4520 feet above the sea, and the surrounding mountains 

 are very barren. About the village I noticed a few stunted sugar- 

 canes, some peach and orange trees, the castor-oil plant, and a betel 

 vine or two. The only fine trees near the place were weeping cy- 

 presses ; the simul also occurs. 



Feb. 23rd. After the usual annoyances about coolies and ponies, 

 we left Singlang without regret, for it was a most uninteresting 

 place. We commenced by an ascent of about 1000 feet, and then 

 continued following the course of the Koosee downwards. The road 

 throughout was good and evidently well frequented. At an eleva- 

 tion of about 6000 feet we came on open woods of somewhat stunted 

 oaks and rhododendrons ; the only well-wooded parts we met with 

 being such ravines as afforded exit to water-courses. We passed 

 several villages in the latter part of the march, some containing 20 

 and 30 houses, and met with a good deal of cultivation as we tra- 

 versed that tract, the improved appearance of which struck us so 

 much from Singe. Tumashoo is an ordinary-sized village, about 

 5000 feet in elevation. We were lodged in the Dhoompa's house. 



Feb. 24th. Left for Oonjar, ascending at first over sward or through 

 a fir wood for about 800 feet, when we crossed a ridge, and thence 

 descended until we came to a small torrent which we crossed; 

 thence we ascended gradually, until we surmounted a ridge 7300 

 feet high ; descending thence very gradually until we came over 

 Oonjar, to which place we descended by a steep by-path for a few 

 hundred feet. The features of the country were precisely the same. 

 At the elevation of 7300 feet the woods became finer, consisting of 

 oaks and rhododendrons, rendered more picturesque from being co- 

 vered with mosses, and a gray pendulous lichen, a sure indication of 

 considerable elevation. Various temples and monumental walls were 

 passed, and several average-sized villages seen in various directions. 

 A fine field of peas in full blossom was noticed at 5500 feet, but 

 otherwise little cultivation occurred. Oonjar is a small village at an 

 elevation of 6370 feet. 



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