728 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL MIST. SOCIETY, VoL XXII. 



between them an open space of varying width, known as the 

 Kiara Dun, a broad and well cultivated valley." 



''The scenery in the immediate neighbourhood of Simla 



itself presents a series of magnificent views, embracing on 



the south the Ambala plains, with the Sabathu and Kasauli 



hills in the foreground, and the massive block of the Chaur, 



a little to the left ; while just below the spectator's feet a 



series of huge ravines lead down into the deep valleys, which 



score the mountain sides. Northwards the eye wanders over 



a net-work of confused chains, rising range above range, 



and crowned in the distance by a crescent of snowy peaks, 



which stand out in bold relief against the clear background of 



the sky." 



The principal rivers by which the drainage of these hills is 



effected are the Swtlej, the Pabbar, the Giri, the Ghambar, and the 



Sarsah. 



The upper parts of the Bashahr principality, extending from its 

 northern confines of Kunawar to its eastern limits at Shipki, on 

 the Tibetan frontier, belong to what is generally known as the 

 " Alpine" zone of the Himalayas, and contain much Tibetan 

 admixture both in their flora and fauna. The plants here present 

 an arctic facies. Some of the characteristic Mammalian fauna of 

 these high altitudes are, 'Felis uncia — the Ounce ; Ursus isahellinus — 

 the Brown Bear ; Pseudois nahura — the Baral ; and Capra sihirica — 

 the Himalayan Ibex. These animals seldom descend to lower 

 elevations unless driven by the rigours of an exceptionally severe 

 winter. This belt is beyond the influence of the Indian monsoons, 

 which are practically spent before they reach Chini (9,000 feet) 

 — almost in the centre of Bashahr — and much of the rainfall 

 is in winter in the form of snow. Close to the Tibetan border, 

 there is always a continuou.s wind, driving dust and dry snow 

 along with it, and stunting the whole vegetation. 



Next to Bashahr are some of the other Hill States, surrounding 

 the sanitarium of Simla, with elevations varying from about 6,000 

 to 8,000 or 9,000 feet. The districts embraced between these 

 altitudes are generally spoken of as the " Middle Himalayas," and 

 have aptly been designated the " Forest" region, for nature here 

 wears the garb of the temperate zone. This section is subject to 

 the full force of the monsoons, the average annual rainfall 

 amounting to 65 inches, and " includes some of the largest forests 

 of the Himalayan cedar, especially in the neighbourhood of 

 Nachar, stretching on one side into the Wangur and Baspa valleys, 

 and on the other, along the tops of the hills, to almost the imme- 

 diate vicinity of Simla. About Gaora and Serahan — between 

 7,000 and 9,000 feet — some of the finest specimens of Ulmiis 

 .himalayensis, Pavia indica, Juglans recjia, Mulberry, and other trees 



