VOL. LXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 541 



Find 2 mineral wells, slightly impregnated with iron, with much appearance of 

 that metal in this part of the country ; and they are not unacquainted with the 

 method of extracting it from the stones, but still despise its use in building. 

 Towards Chooka there are many well cultivated fields of wheat and barley. 



Road to Punukha, May 26. From Chooka the country opens, and presents 

 to view many well cultivated fields and distant villages; a rapid change in climate, 

 the vegetable productions, and general appearance of the country. Towards 

 Punukha, pines and firs are the only trees to be met with ; but they do not yet 

 seem in their proper climate, being dwarfish and ill-shaped : peaches, rasberries, 

 and strawberries, thriving every where ; scarcely a plant to be seen that is not of 

 European growth. In addition to the many already mentioned, saw 2 species of 

 the Crataegus, one not yet described. Saw 2 ash-trees in a very thriving state, 

 the star-thistle, and many other weeds, in general natives of the Alps and 

 Switzerland. 



Much of the rock is pure lime-stone ; a valuable acquisition if they did not 

 either despise its use, or were unacquainted with its properties. It was most ad- 

 vantageously situated for being worked, and the purest perhaps to be met with. 

 There is likewise abundance of fire-wood in this part of the country. In building 

 they would derive great benefit from the use of it. Their houses are lofty, the 

 timbers substantial, and nothing wanting to make them durable, but their being 

 acquainted with the use of lime. As a manure it might probably be used to great 

 advantage. Many fields of barley in this part of the country ; now the begin- 

 ning of their harvest. The thermometer here fell, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, 

 to 6o° : cold and chilly. 



Road to Chepta, May 27. On the road to Chepta, the rock in general dips 

 to the northward and eastward, in about an angle of 6o degrees. Much of lime- 

 stone, arid some veins of quartz, and loose pieces of sparry flint striking fire with 

 steel. Several springs, and one slightly impregnated with iron. In addition to 

 the plants of yesterday, found the coriandrum testiculatum, inula montana, and 

 rhododendrum magnum. At Chepta met with a few turneps, one maple-tree, 

 worm-wood, goose-grass (galium aparine), and many other European weeds ; the 

 first walnut-tree we had yet seen. Chepta lies high, and not above 6 miles frony 

 the mountain of Lomyla, now covered with snow. The wind from that quarter, 

 s.E. made it cold and chilly, and sunk the thermometer at mid-day to 57°. Here 

 are some fields of wheat and barley not yet ripe. 



Road to Pagha, May 29. Soon after leaving Chepta find a mineral well, 

 which, on a chemical examination, gave marks of a strong impregnation from 

 iron. Traced it to its source, where the thermometer, on being immersed, fell 

 from 68° to 56°. A little before we reach Pagha, met with some lime-stone, and 

 a bed of chalk, which, near the surface, contained a great proportion of sand, but 



