INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 207 



which divides Kunawar from Tibet, is 18,300. To the north, 

 the pass leading from Kunawar into Piti is the Hangarang, 

 14,800. Those to Upper Piti are much more lofty. The bed 

 of the Satlej ascends from about 4000 feet in Lower Kuna- 

 war, to 8000 or 9000 feet at the upper extremity of the pro- 

 vince. 



As a whole the province is very dry, compared with any 

 to the southward and eastward of it, being intermediate in 

 this respect, as it is in geographical position, between the 

 Tibetan and Cis-Himalayan provinces, and its flora is conse- 

 quently comparatively poor in number of species. Owing to 

 the dryness of its climate, Kunawar is sometimes selected as 

 a retreat from the rains of Simla ; and the village of Chini, 

 elevated about 7000 feet, has thus been often visited. Plants 

 from this province and the adjacent districts of Tibet are fre- 

 quently said to be gathered in Chinese Tartary, — an unmean- 

 ing term, and one which should be disused in geographical 

 and botanical works. Owing to the rapid transition from the 

 climate of the humid parts of the Simla province to that of 

 Kunawar, we have few instances to record of eastern forms 

 finding their limits here : amongst which there are, perhaps, 

 Berberis aristata, Cassiope fastigiata, Potentilla fruticosa, P. 

 eriocarpa, and P. ambigua ; and no doubt some others lurk in 

 the more humid and shaded situations. 



On the other hand, many remarkable western and Siberian 

 forms make their appearance in Kunawar, which advance no 

 further east. As — 



CXeraaiis panifolia. Quercus Ilex. 



Eubus piirpureus. Olea cuspidata ? 



Salix acutifolia. Diauthus. 



Alnus nitida. PalLurus aculeatus. 



Pinus Gerardiana. Eremurus Biebersteinii. 



Whilst many species, which have been hitherto known only as 

 natives of the dry Tibetan climate at the heads of the Hima- 

 layan rivers, become prevalent features in the flora. 



The first remarkable local transition in the vegetation is 



