330 
collectors, under the shelter of some bushes, 
to transfer the plants collected from the 
boxes to paper, we pushed on to our final 
destination, the highest point of the moun- 
tain, which we reached a little after one 
o’clock, and ascertained the elevation by 
barometrical measurement to be 4,350 feet 
above the level of the sea. This was by 
far the most difficult part of the ascent, on 
account of its steepness, the broken cha- 
racter of the ground, and the closeness of 
e bamboos. We found ourselves en- 
veloped in clouds and mist, although a 
bright sun was shining below. The ther- 
mometer fell from 75 degrees, the usual 
height on the plain, to 60: the barometer 
to 25.800. The few trees that are scattered 
about here, are stunted in their growth and 
enveloped in a thick coating of lichens. 
Had time permitted, and locomotion been 
easier, I should have tried to ascertain 
what they were ; but the bamboos were so 
close that we were obliged to cut our way, 
and to clear a spot in order to set up the 
barometer. e bamboos had undergone 
a similar change to the trees, for in place 
of fine, tall, tapering plants, not unlike 
clumsy fishing-rods, they had acquired the 
appearance and name of reeds. A species 
of Ozalis is very abundant among them, 
but whether an alpine variety of O. sen- 
sitiva, or a distinct species, remains to be 
determined. It differs greatly in habit, in 
having a long branched stem, each branch 
being terminated by a tuft of leaves and 
flowers, like those of O. sensitiva, but it 
is less sensitive, which may be owing to 
the lower temperature of its place of 
gro e Bamboo among which it 
grows is peculiar and so far as I have been 
able to discover, a nondescript species, 
which, however, I cannot adequately de- 
scribe, for want of the parts of fructifica- 
. tion. ltisa tall, straight, nearly branch- 
Jess, reed-like plant, attaining in sheltered 
T Miystions a height of between twenty and 
with a short but distine petiole : in size 
BOTANICAL EXCURSION IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF COURTALLAM. 
these leaves greatly exceed those of all the 
other bamboos I have seen in this country, 
the larger ones being from eight to ten 
inches long and from two to three broad, 
tapering at both ends. Altogether they are 
so like those used by the Chinese in pack- 
ing tea, except in being less coriaceous, 
that I am inclined to consider our plant, if 
not identical, a very nearly allied species, 
perhaps a variety, the difference depending 
on situation. 
Having at length accomplished the main 
object of our journey, we commenced the 
descent ; the first part of which was per- 
formed as rapidly as the close growth of 
the Bamboos, or Reeds, as they are usually 
called, and the broken nature of the ground, 
would permit. Although much botanizing 
was out of the question, I got a few plants 
which I had overlooked in the ascent; but 
upon re-entering the forest, I took the 
liberty of dropping behind my companions, 
who were not botanists, and enjoyed such 
an hour’s herborising as rarely falls to the 
lot of even the most enthusiastic indivi- 
duals ; to the dismay however of my friends, 
who at length fancying that I had lost my 
way or been attacked by wild beasts, or a 
score of other things all equally near the 
truth, set up such a shouting as to leave 
me no alternative but to rejoin them, which 
I did with great regret: I had however 
again filled my boxes and formed a large 
parcel besides. I could not but lament my 
inability to spend several days in that noble 
forest, and not at one season, but every 
season in the year, if the climate would 
permit it. To go there for one day only, 
is extremely tantalizing, as one is lost and 2 
perplexed by the endless variety of forms 
at once presented to the eye. From the 
time of our leaving the wood the descent 
was so very rapid, that we had all rẹ- | 
mounted our horses before five o'clock, and - 
in little more than half an hour were — 
enjoying ourselves in the shower bath. — 
I must now endeavour to give you some 
idea of the richness of the Flora of bios 
hills, deduced from the observations 
this excursion only, as it would take up 
too much time to go over my herbarium to 
Ss ete 
UG one nee 
