182 On the Aptitude of the Himdlay an [April, 



As we go south towards Calcutta, the temperature increases, al- 

 though not uniformly, as may be seen from the observed heat of 

 Futtygurh, Benares, Ghazipur, and Calcutta. 

 77°. 5 77°. 81 77°. 36 78°. 3 



In the Himalaya mountains, the case is widely different : excepting 

 periodical rains, all the conditions of a temperate climate are here found, 

 and, here above all parts of India, we may look for the successful culti- 

 vation of tea. Our not possessing mountain territory below 29° may 

 alone exclude the consideration of the fitness of the southern tracts. 

 My personal knowledge of the hills is chiefly confined to the tract be- 

 tween the Ganges and Jumna. In consequence of being tied to 

 Seharanpur, from having the medical duties of the station to attend to, 

 in addition to the Botanic Garden, I have not been able hitherto to see 

 much of the mountains: but, as the rock formations and the configuration 

 of the hills are the same along an immense tract, the remarks which 

 I have to make will apply very generally to the hills. 



The Himalayas have a direction running from N. W. to S. E. 

 They consist, on this side of the snowy range, chiefly of primary rocks, 

 inclined at a considerable angle. The dip of the strata is to the E. of 

 N. and their abutment to the W. of S. On the flank of the great 

 range there is a line of low hills, the Sewalik,which commence at Roopur, 

 on the Satlej, and run down a long way to the south, skirting the great 

 chain. In some places they run up to, and rise upon, the Himalayas ; in 

 others, as in this neighbourhood, they are separated by an intermediate 

 valley. Between the Jumna and Ganges they attain their greatest height, 

 which Captain Herbert estimates at 2000 feet above the plains at their 

 foot ; or 3000 above the sea. Seharanpur is about 1000 feet above the 

 sea. About 25 miles north are the Sewalik hills. They are here 

 about six or seven miles wide. To the east of the Ganges and west of 

 the Jumna, they gradually fall off. They have the same direction with 

 the great chain, and agree generally in dip ; their slope being towards 

 the north and abutment to the south. They rise at once against 

 the plains, with an abrupt mural front. They are serrated across their 

 direction, forming a succession of scarcely parallel ridges, with a steep 

 face on one side, and slope on the other. The strata are inclined at an 

 angle of 25° to 30°. They are of recent tertiary or alluvial formation, and 

 consist of friable sandstone or gravelly conglomerate, agglutinated by a 

 calcareous cement, containing subordinate beds of clay : the upper 

 strata are entirely gravel. Beyond these hills lies the valley of Dehra, 

 1200 or 1400 feet above the sea, and then the great chain of the 

 Himalayas. The following rude sketch will perhaps give you an idea 

 of the whole better than description ; the distances are not in proportion 

 in the section. 



