1862.] Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. 491 



wooden temple is erected, where the footpath to Kotgurh branches 

 off. The descent from this is in places very steep, and after rain ra- 

 ther difficult, from the slippery nature of the stiff yellow clay over 

 which the path lies. At Kotgurh, besides the Missionary stationed 

 there, is a gentleman of the name of Berkeley who is engaged in tea- 

 planting ; and a retired officer, named Begbie, also has a house in the 

 neighbourhood which he occasionally occupies. Mr. Berkeley's house 

 is near the highest limit at which the tea-plant will thrive, and his 

 chief plantations are at a somewhat lower level ; but the quality of 

 the soil has also considerable influence, and varies considerably, pro- 

 bably according to the nature of the rock immediately beneath it. 

 Kotgurh, from its low elevation, is hot and sultry, and not exempt, I 

 should think, from malarious fever. The vegetation round it is rank 

 in all open spots, and rice is grown just below it. Bears and leo- 

 pards are found in the forest above it, the last animal being far more 

 numerous than might be suspected. Several have been taken in 

 traps near Simla this season, (as many as three in one month by the 

 same individual), but yet it is an animal which is never seen abroad 

 in the day time. The bears are the black hill bear (Ursus Hima- 

 layanus) a perfectly distinct animal from the black bear of the 

 plains, and considerably smaller, to judge by the relative size of the 

 skulls of the two species. The plain bear is in fact another genus 

 (Procheilus labiatus) and the skulls may be readily discriminated, 

 as the former has six incisor teeth in the upper jaw, whilst the latter 

 has but four. 



lbth, Nirt-cliokee . — Nirt is situated on the banks of the Sutlej, and 

 the descent to it from Kotgurh is in many places extremely steep 

 and difficult. The Sutlej is here under 100 yards broad, and rushes 

 over a rocky bed, the whole valley being so contracted as to afford few 

 open patches fit for cultivation on either side. At this low level the 

 heat is very great, and the hills are covered with the same sort of 

 cactus which occurs round Subathu and Kasouli. Pipal trees are 

 also met with near villages, but all of them planted, and none occur 

 much above Bampur. Remnants of terraces of old river shingle 

 may here and there be noticed at different heights ; some at not less 

 than 500 feet above the present level of the river. These evidences 

 of former river action have induced some writers to indulge in fanci- 

 ful speculations respecting vast cataclysms, and the sudden disrup- 



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