31£ CUPRESSUS TORULOSA. 



distinguishing character, is not characteristic, seeing that it is 

 common to both. In its distribution the Pindrow is much more 

 restricted, and is in general found on more elevated positions, 

 as on the Chor and Tyne Teba, Ac. 



Uses. — 'Its wood is adapted for building purposes, but is of no 

 particular value. 



Gen. Cupressus. — The most important species belonging to 

 this genus met with in the Himalayahs, is the Cupressus torulosa, 

 or Surroo and Surin of the natives. In the Kohistau of the Punjab 

 it does not, as far as we are aware, occur, but is common in 

 Kumaon and Gurwahl. Near Simla in the neighbourhood of 

 temples, it is met with and is styled Deodar. The Deodar, 

 therefore, known to the natives of Simla is the Cupressus torulosa 

 and not the Cedar, it being styled by them, as already noticed, 

 Keloo. At Xynee Tal, trees of Surroo, of vast dimensions, occur, 

 the largest girting upwards of 24 feet, and rising to the height of 

 80 feet. In Gurwahl, too, it is abundant, as near Kunnoor, and at 

 Surin or Surroo Tota, the place taking its name from the tree. 

 There it occurs in the very bed of the river Dowli, the largest 

 and longest branch of the Ganges, which takes its rise from a 

 snow bed at the summit of the Neetee Pass, and there it is so 

 small that we stepped across it in June. 



Uses. — As a building material the Surroo is admirably adapted, 

 its wood being very hard, close-grained, tough, long-fibred, and of 

 a dark-red colour. The gates of Constantinople made by Constan- 

 tine, and said to have lasted 1100 years, were manufactured 

 of wood belonging to a species of Cypress (C. sempervirens, 

 Lindley.) The Himalayan Cypress seems to possess qualities 

 almost equally good, and probably may even be equally durable : 

 but nowhere in the Himalayahs are the forests of this wood in 

 accessible places for l'emoval to the plains. 



Associated with the Cypress, between Malari and Bumpa, a 

 species of Juniper, being a lofty fine tree, occurs, the Juniperus 

 excelsa, aud on the very verge of the snow, six miles beyond 

 Neetee, a creeping species (Juniperus prostrata ?) is found, pro- 

 bably the so-called European Juniper of Moorcroft. By some 

 authors it is mentioned, and Webb quoted as an authority as occui*- 

 ring in the Neetee Pass. This is a mistake, as nowhere is it met 

 with beyond Gildoung, the last halting-place on the British side 

 of the Himalayahs, and some miles distant from Neetee Pass. 

 Like the Surroo, the Juniper has only been, as yet, met with in 

 inaccessible places. 



