NATURALIST IN INDIA. 257 



August.' We encamped at dusk on a grassy glade sur- 

 rounded by vast towering and perpendicular mountains, 

 several of which were covered with snow. The scenery was 

 magnificent, especially towards sunset, when their snowy tops 

 looked one mass of red and golden yellow.' We had now 

 reached the Sonamurg, or Valley of Golden Flowers, one of 

 the chief pasture-lands, and capable of affording every advan- 

 tage in the way of rearing cattle or horses. Herds of both 

 were seen roaming over the vast savannahs, which teemed 

 with a countless variety of plants — 



" Billowy bays of grass ever rolling in shadow and sunshine." 



Among the gorgeous flora of Sonamurg I recognised the 

 gigantic umbelliferous FervXa asafcetida, which furnishes 

 the well-known medicine of that name. Whether this species 

 is identical with the celebrated Cyrenie plant, the eiX(pitav of 

 the Greeks, I cannot say, nor am I certain that it is the same 

 as the Prangos pabularia mentioned in Moorcroft's Travels-. 

 The wild onion and garlic were abundant, and the handsome 

 shining-leaved thistle-like Mima persica was common. 

 The Bheum emadi and two other species of rhubarb (wehbia- 

 Tium et specif orme f) were often observed. We were constantly 

 meeting with gangs of good-natured Ladakees on their way 

 to Cashmere with loads of merchandise, carried by their half- 

 bred yaks. As we proceeded up the valley the vegetation 

 began to decrease, and by the afternoon of the 6th of July, 

 when we arrived at the foot of the Bultul pass, the fair 

 scenery of the previous days was entirely changed. We were 

 now about to cross the great watershed, and a few hours 

 would bring us into the rainless desert regions of Ladakh. 

 The sun was declining as we commenced the ascent, and by 

 the time we arrived at the summit of the pass had dipped 



