XIV PREFACE. 



and would doubtless have completed it in a satisfactory manner if Lis 

 health had not given way. During the latter part of his residence in 

 England, it was evident to his friends that his general health was impaired; 

 and when the first sheets of his manuscript were printed, it was clear that 

 the work, as prepared by him, would neither be a useful "one, nor one 

 creditable to himself. He returned to India in October 1872, and died 

 from an affection of the brain at Dalhousie on the 5th July 1873. Under 

 these circumstances, as I had, while in India, recommended that this task 

 should be intrusted to Dr Stewart, and as I happened to be in England 

 for the restoration of my health, I was directed in March 1872, by her 

 Majesty's Secretary of State for India in Council, to complete the work 

 for publication ; and the past two years have been devoted to this duty. 



The following materials, besides the published literature and official 

 reports, have been at my disposal : 1. The rich collections of the Eoyal 

 Herbarium, Museum, and Gardens at Kew. 2. Dr Stewart's manuscript, 

 comprising the description of 444 species. 3. Mr Eichard Thompson's 

 notes, and a portion of the collections made by him. 4. The greater por- 

 tion of my own herbarium, which was in charge of Mr Sulpiz Kurz at 

 Calcutta, and which I sent for as soon as I received orders to undertake 

 the work. 5. A small collection of plants made by me on a journey 

 through Eajputana and the forest tracts of Guzerat in 1869-70, with my 

 journal and notes. A large portion of the notes and journals relating to 

 my other tours in North- West and Central India, and some of the botani- 

 cal collections made on those tours, were unfortunately in India, and could 

 not be made available for the preparation of this work. 



My personal knowledge of the arboreous vegetation of the territory in- 

 cluded in this Flora has been acquired during a series of tours of inspection 

 in the forests of the Satpura range, Bijoragogarh, and Oudh, the Nepal 

 Terai, Kamaon, Garhwal, Eohilkhand, Dehra Doon, Jaunsar, and Gorakh- 

 pur, in 1863 ; the Deodar forests of Kunawar, the outer hills and a portion 

 of the plains of the Panjab, in 1864 ; Kangra, the plantations and Eakhs of 

 the Panjab, Sindh, Berar, and the western part of the Satpura range, in 

 1868-69 ; Kunawar, Eajputana, the Panch Mehal and Mandevi forests of 

 Guzerat, and the Eakhs and plantations of the Panjab plains, in 1869-70 ; 

 and during a residence of six summer seasons at Simla, and numerous ex- 

 cursions and smaller tours in the vicinity of that place. Unfortunately, 

 I was never able, owing to continued pressure of official duties, to devote 

 much time during those journeys to botanical studies. With the Flora 

 of Tibet, Chamba, Kashmir, Kaghan, and the trans -Indus territory, I 

 have no personal acquaintance. 



The identification and description of species, and the botanical part 

 generally, is entirely mine, and the result of my independent researches. 

 I am alone responsible for them. But Dr Stewart's MSS. furnished me 



