ANAMALAI — HIGHER RANGES. 295 



From this ridge (Bison Eidge) we skirted the base of the 

 Akka-malai, keeping above the sholas, and ascended the western 

 side of the high range, which is clothed with remarkably short 

 grass, to the right of the Akka. The previous afternoon some of 

 the party ascended the shoulder of the Akka, which is con- 

 siderably higher. Unfortunately, owing to the dense mist, they 

 were not rewarded by a good view of the surrounding country. 

 Mr Beddome has favoured me with the following note of his 

 ascent : — " The rocky Akka mountain, which is probably upwards 

 of 8000 feet high, is quite covered near its summit with several 

 undescribed species of Impatiens. The only other new form I 

 observed on this mountain was a curious crassulaceous plant with 

 fleshy peltate leaves, growing in sheltered moist nooks of the 

 rock. 



" Balsams are very abundant on these hills. Impatiens bal- 

 samina, Dasysperma, albida, maculata, campanula, chinansis, to- 

 mentosa, verticellata, oppositifolia, Kleinii, tenella, rivdlis, acaulis, 

 modesta, latifolia, lucida rufescens, Goughii, cordata, and several 

 undescribed species." 



Having proceeded several miles along this range, the summit 

 of which was hidden in mist, we turned to the southreast. The 

 mist suddenly cleared, and we got a glimpse of numerous ibex 

 on the rocks above, and saw~a valley which appeared to be five 

 miles long and two broad, with large sholas on the other side. 

 The wind and rain increased as we proceeded. "We came to the 

 junction of the streams, near which is a beautiful waterfall about 

 350 feet high. The general character of the valley struck several 

 as being like Pykara on the Nilgiris. The weather continuing 

 very unfavourable, our attendants fatigued, and our provisions 

 exhausted, it was necessary to retrace our steps. 



Some of the herbaceous plants observed adorning the higher 

 hillside pastures are : — Flemingia procumbens, PJiaseolus pulnien- 

 sis, Anemone Wightiana, Lysimachia Leschenaultii and deltoidea, 

 Utricularia, Ranunculus reniformis, Gentiana pedicellata, with 

 many others. But these examples are sufficient to show the 

 similarity of the Flora to that around Utakamand. Two curious 

 and new species of Podostemacece cover the rocks in the beds of 

 rivers. 



