208 FLORA INDICA. 



met with on the road between Chegaon and Miru, in Lower 

 Kunawar ; but, though striking to the eye, from the preva- 

 lence of a few novel forms of plants^ the total number of new 

 species, not found commonly in Simla^ amounts only to thirty 

 or forty. Of the latter, a small-leaved ash, Dianthus, Lychnis, 

 and various Alsinece, Artemisias and LeguminoscB, contribute 

 most to the altered character of the flora. 



Of cultivated plants, the grape, apricot, all Pomacea, wal- 

 nut, etc., thrive in Kunawar, and most of them better than 

 anywhere to the eastward, but all are equally prevalent to the 

 westward. Their abundance, together with the beauty of the 

 scenery of Kunawar, which is extolled by every one, the deli- 

 cious climate of its almost rainless summer, and its being on 

 the high road to Tibet, Yarkand, and Central Asia, will all 

 contribute to render it one of the most attractive spots in our 

 Indian possessions. 



9. Lahul. 



Lahul, a British province, is included by Cunningham in 

 Tibet, from which it is however distinct in its physical features. 

 It consists of the valleys of the head-waters of the Chenab. 

 Of its vegetation we know very little, except from an interest- 

 ing collection formed by Captain Hay, and communicated by 

 Mr. Edgeworth, which we have not yet had time to examine. 

 It is everywhere surrounded by lofty mountains, except towards 

 its north-western extremity, where it is conterminous with 

 Kishtwar. To the south it is bounded by the mountains north 

 of Kulu, where it is crossed by the Eotang Pass, elevated 

 13,200 feet, an exceptional depression, the rest of the chain 

 being very lofty. To the west, a portion of the Himalayan 

 axis divides it from the Tibetan province of Piti, and is crossed 

 by the Kulzum Pass, elevated 14,850 feet ; and to the north, 

 a continuation of the same axis separates it from the Tibetan 

 province of Zanskar, and is crossed by the Baralacha Pass, 

 elevated 16,500 feet. 



Thus hemmed in by lofty mountains, the vegetation of La- 



