INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 199 



The two groups of provinces of the Western Himalaya we 

 ■opose are : — 



The observations we have to offer upon the vegetation of 

 these are very fragmentary, as the majority of the natural 

 orders have stiU to be worked out ; we shall however endea- 

 vour, after describing the physical features of each, to give as 

 many examples as we can of the peculiarities of their floras, 

 as will show the importance of the study and the means of 

 prosecutijig it. Their complete elucidation must be left for 

 local botanists. 



1. KuMAON. 



Kumaon, as at present limited, is bounded on the east by 

 the Kali, separating it from Nipal ; on the west by the Alak- 

 nanda branch of the Ganges, and its western feeder, the 

 Mandakni ; on the north by the axis of the Cis-Satlej Hima- 

 laya, and on the south by the upper Gangetic plain. The 

 elevation of the Terai at its base varies from 600 to 1000 

 feet ; the mountains of the outer ranges rise to 7000 in many 

 places, and in the interior attain 10,000, while still further 

 north many rise above 20,000, and a few above 24,000 feet. 

 The loftiest, as elsewhere in the Himalaya, are never on the 

 axis of the chain, which is stUl further north, and whose great 

 mean elevation may be judged of from that of the passes over 

 it. Of these, proceeding from the eastward, the Lankpya 

 Pass is 18,000 feet, the Lakhur 18,400, the Balch 17,700, 

 the Niti 16,800, and the Mana 18,760. Almora, the capital 



