Geography of the Hhnalayah Mountains. 25 



to communicate with whom I consider so high a privilege, as 

 many suggestions as possible, for the direction of my future 

 inquiries, in case I may ever again return to the districts in 

 question ; the period of my first acquaintance with which will 

 ever form a marked era in my life, from the interest then ex- 

 cited in scenes so imposing and remarkable. 



Before proceeding to detail a few of the phenomena which 

 present themselves on entering the hilly tract at the foot of 

 the Himalayah, it may be proper to premise a few topogra- 

 phical remarks on the country forming the northern extremi- 

 ty of the plains of Upper Hindostan, between the river beds 

 of the Sutluj and Jumna. These leave the hills at a distance 

 from each other of about eighty British miles, the latter a 

 clear stream in a broad comparatively shallow bed, filled with 

 rolled stones, rapid at its first exit, particularly during the 

 rains, but soon showing, by its division into different channels 

 and windings, the flatness of the level at which it has arrived. 

 The extensive Sal forest and grass jungle, composed of gigantic 

 species of saccharum, (among which elephants might remain 

 concealed, during the rainy months) to be found at this place 

 and its vicinity, made Padshahmuhul a favourite spot, to 

 which the Delhi emperors were wont to resort, in order to en- 

 joy the diversion of hunting. When the smaller streams are 

 dried up by the heats of April and May, it abounds with 

 wild elephants, tigers, leopards, and the hog and spotted deer. 

 Its closeness from surrounding heights, however, and the un- 

 healthy vapours and heavy night dews which fall during the 

 rainy months, make it a most unhealthy residence at that 

 time, when it is only visited by the woodcutters, preparers of 

 actechu, or by travellers, who pass through without remaining 

 a night if possible. 



The remains of a royal palace are still to be seen here, up- 

 on which the jungle has encroached on all sides, so that tigers 

 have been roused within a few yards of its mouldering walls. 

 There, in the days of Bernier's visit to Delhi, whose descrip- 

 tions it is so interesting to contrast with the present state of 

 that capital, the splendid courts of the Mogul Emperors en- 

 camped around their prince. 



In no situation do the reflections of the eastern poet upon 

 the instability of human greatness impress themselves more 

 strongly on the imagination. 



