1862.] Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. 499 



withstanding the lowness of the temperature, the larvae of some insect 

 were numerous in it, and what seemed an aquatic acarus or tick, and 

 a small species of leech, rather less than an inch in length. These 

 quick-scented animals soon found out and attached themselves to 

 some garbage of a sheep, which my servants had left in the water, 

 and I subsequently found these animals to abound in running water 

 both in Bissahir and Spiti. Leeches are known to be one cause of 

 cattle epidemics, especially in excessively wet seasons, as this has been, 

 and it would be interesting to ascertain, by the dissection of cattle 

 which have died of epidemic disease, if they are infested internally 

 by these rapacious creatures ; as, if the disease can be traced to this 

 cause, a remedy might easily be applied by carefully debarring the 

 cattle from all access to streams containing them. I myself had no 

 opportunity, as the epidemic among the cattle had occurred in the 

 spring, and most of the survivors had been driven up the mountains to 

 escape its effects. 



29th, Sangnam. — Early in the morning I was awakened by the 

 flight over my tent of many noisy birds, which I afterwards ascertain- 

 ed to be red-legged crows. These birds are social without being gre- 

 garious, and when feeding on the hill side, keep together in small 

 companies, but without forming flocks. Their food consists of wire- 

 worms and other insects, which they search for under stones and 

 among tufts of grass, but they are usually very wary, and difficult 

 to approach within range. This is evidently an instinct or caution 

 peculiar to the bird. It cannot be attributed to the result of experi- 

 ence, as they have no reason to regard man as their enemy, being 

 unmolested and rarely in their lives hearing the report of a gun. After 

 quitting camp, commenced the ascent of the Ranang pass, 14361 feet, 

 the ascent being gradual and easy. From the summit a fine view is 

 obtained of the Sangnam valley and the hills across the Phanam river, 

 on the opposite bank of which Sangnam is situated, and in the far 

 distance the snowy peaks surrounding the Manirang pass, towering 

 up to 2 J 845 ft. The descent to Sangnam is very abrupt, and the river 

 is crossed by a wooden bridge a little above the village. A good 

 breadth of land was under cultivation along the river above the village, 

 and beans were being gathered in, though not quite ripe. Apricots 

 were the only fruit-trees I remarked, and their fruit was also being 

 gathered. Flour was only five seers per rupee, or one seer dearer 



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