Captain Webb's Joimm/ in Thibet. 65 



enough from Moorcroft's Narrative. — You will observe that in 

 editing that account, Mr. Colebrooke doubts whether the forest 

 trees called cypress and cedar were really observed, and it is 

 probable that he was staggered by the enormous dimensions 

 assigned to the cedar. I found, however, plenty of both, 

 though the cedar is of dwarf size ; and there is another 

 species which I conclude to be the creeping cedar. The cypress 

 appears to me to be the Cupressus horizontalis. The pines are 

 the Strobus, (mistaken by Moorcroft for the longifolia*, which 

 I did not meet with once) ; the Deodar, (mistaken for the cedar, 

 as no other tree is found of the dimensions quoted by Moor- 

 croft,) and another species, the leaves of which are a good deal 

 like the Yew, but I know not its botanical name. The berry- 

 bearing Yew, is itself of very frequent occurrence. 



The exactness of another statement of Mr. Moorcroft's has 

 been questioned. I allude to the diflSculty of respiration at a 

 high level ; but even considering my own sensations as affording 

 no competent evidence, on account of the weak state of my 

 health, I cannot for a moment doubt the existence of this ef- 

 fect, of which the Bhoteas are as sensible as strangers ; nor are 

 horses or yaks more exempt from its influence than men. It is 

 called by the residents bis ki huwa, or poisonous air f. The 

 cause is by them referred to the effluvia or exhalations of certain 

 flowers ; and it is supposed to prevail in a greater degree during 

 the early part of the day, and is immediately induced by walk- 

 . ing or bodily exertion of any kind. Every person complained 

 of loss of appetite for many days after our arrival at Niti. For 

 my own part I felt exactly those sensations which precede an 



* It is incumbent on me to say, that the error respectin<y Pinns longi- 

 folia, as well as that concerning Pinus Deodar, (if here likewise any mis- 

 take ha\e arisen,) is my own ; as Mr. Moorcroft had not furnished those 

 botanical names. My surmise was founded on the knowledg'e, that both 

 these species of Pinus are fonnd in the contiguous but lower mountains 

 of tlie same range ; and the absence of any botanical information at that 

 time, concerning the trees in question, (cypresses and cedars,) which 

 Captain Webb's subsequent visit has now supplied. I presume his cedars 

 are species of Juniperus. H. T. C. 



fMr. Fraserlikcwiseencountered this noxious airat great elevations. C. 

 Vol.. IX. F 



