184 On the Aptitude of the Himalayan [April, 



dykes intersecting and rising through the regular strata. The forma- 

 tions have a remarkable feature : — the strata are in all directions frac- 

 tured or comminuted : the slaty rocks are broken into small fragments, 

 as if they had been crushed ; and the limestone rocks are vesicular or 

 cavernous, and broken up into masses. 



The arrangement and nature of the soil take their character from 

 the rocks. From the high angle at which the latter are inclined, 

 and the northern direction of the slope, the soil is chiefly accumulated on 

 the northern sides, where is also the vegetation. From the prevalence 

 of schistose strata, and limestone, the soil under-lying the vegetable 

 mould is clayey and calcareous, or limestone gravel. There is little 

 sandy soil, or sandy gravel. From the extreme richness of the vegetation 

 undisturbed for ages, and the moisture of the climate, there is usually a great 

 accumulation, on the northern slopes, of vegetable mould ; on the south- 

 ern faces, the great steepness leaves little room for the accumulation 

 of soil; where it occurs, it is in patches, and consists of clays or limestone 

 gravel, mixed up with vegetable mould. There is here also little sandy 

 soil. Towards the crest of the slopes, the soil is usually drv, from the 

 moisture running speedily off; but lower down, and wherever the ground 

 is tolerably level, the soil is quite damp, and perhaps it is rarely dry 

 in the most parching seasons. 



Cultivation is laborious and difficult. From the absence of table-land, 

 and the angular and contracted shape of the bottom of the valleys, there 

 is little or no level ground. The most favorable slope is taken, and 

 besides the usual tilling of the ground, it has to be divided into patches, 

 which are built up into inconsiderable terraces, rising the one above 

 the other like the steps of a stair. These circumstances might make 

 the cultivation of tea scattered, and prevent it from being produced in 

 any great quantity on one spot. 



The climate of the Himalayas is decidedly damp. The periodical rains 

 commence about the middle of June, and continue till the end of Septem- 

 ber. They are greatly heavier than in the neighbouring plains, and 

 continue at times for many days without intermission ; occasional rains 

 occur in most months during the year. The mean annual fall has 

 been estimated by Mr. Traill, Commissioner of Kemaon, at Hewalbagh, 

 near Almora, about 4000 feet above the sea, and lat. 29° 30', at from 

 40 to 50 inches. But this I imagine is too little. From the middle of No- 

 vember, till the end of February, occasional falls of heavy snow take place, 

 down to the level of 6000 feet above the sea ; on the outer ridge of the 

 mountains, and lower down within the hills, perhaps to 3500 feet. It is 

 a great cause of the richness of vegetation and dampness of soil. In 

 the poorer tracts (such as the district of Jounsar) if snow does not 

 fall during the winter, the subsequent crop invariably fails. 



