VALLEY OF THE SOANE. 51 
the cold spring four (a Composita, a large species of Boerhaavia, Emilia, 
and Acanthacee), which did not occur in the hot. 
A water-beetle, Colymbetes (?), and Notonecta abounded in water at 
112°, with quantities of dead shells, very active frogs, and live shells, 
at 90°, with various water-beetles. I regret having no means of 
detecting the salts of these waters; but I bottled some for future 
analysis. 
The situation of these springs (called Sooroochkund) is remarkably 
pretty, near the mouth of a valley. They are — of worship, of 
course; and a ruined temple is seen close behind, with three very con- 
spicuous trees, a white thick-stemmed and armed, ug Sterculia, 
Whose ramuli bore dense clusters of greenish-red, fetid, and viscid 
flowers, a Peepul and a Banyan. 
On the following day, I botanized in the neighbourhood, with 
poor success: an oblique-leaved Ficus climbs the other species, and 
generally strangles them. Two other Epiphytal Orchidee occur on 
the trees, besides the one alluded to, an Angrecum and an Oberonia. 
Cuscute, of two species, swarm over and conceal the bushes with their 
yellow filaments, especially choking the Vitex Negundo(?). Mucuna is 
à common and most disagreeable companion, the cow-iteh of its pods 
flying about with the wind, and causing intolerable irritation. 
Isend you a sketch of the smoking springs, to remind you of 
Iceland, done by my friend Beadle, who is a capital artist ; also of Paras- 
Nath, and of the Cholera tree, for so a famous Peepul by the road is 
called, which I passed the following day ; it is covered with inscriptions, 
and votive tokens, in the shape of rags, &c. Beadle is kindly making 
studies of the best trees in the neighbourhood for you, the Banyan, 
Mahoua, Peepul, and Stereulia: he has a charming port-folio of Indian 
sketches, amongst which his pretty bridges and surrounding scenery 
along the road form a prominent feature. 
Feb. 8th.—Left Lieutenant Beadle’s early this morning, following 
Williams’ camp. The morning was clear and cold, the temp. only 56°; 
we crossed the nearly empty broad bed of the Burkutta river, a noble 
stream during the rains, carrying along huge boulders of granite and 
gneiss. Still ascending, I measured the highest part of the road, 1691 ft., 
and suddenly came upon a small forest of a peculiar-looking tree, quite 
new to me. This proved to be the Indian Olibanum (Boswellia thuri- 
fera) conspicuous for its pale bark, and patent curving branches, leafy 
H 2 
