16 HILLS OF BEHAR. Chap. I. 



On the 2nd of February we proceeded to Tofe-Choney, 

 the hills increasing in height to nearly 1000 feet, and the 

 country becoming more picturesque. We passed some tanks 

 covered with Villarsia, and frequented by flocks of white 

 egrets. The existence of artificial tanks so near a lofty 

 mountain, from whose sides innumerable water-courses 

 descend, indicates the great natural dryness of the country 

 during one season of the year. The hills and vallies were 

 richer than I expected, though far from luxuriant. A fine 

 Nauclea is a common shady tree, and JBignonia i?idica, now 

 leafless, but with immense pods hanging from the branches. 

 Acanthacece is the prevalent natural order, consisting of 

 gay-flowered Erantliemums, Ruettias, Barlerias, and such 

 hothouse favourites.* 



This being the most convenient station whence to ascend 

 Paras-nath, we started at 6 a.m. for the village of Maddao- 

 bund, at the north base of the mountain, or opposite side 

 from that on which the grand trunk-road runs. After 

 following the latter for a few miles to the west, we took a 

 path through beautifully wooded plains, with scattered trees 

 of the Mahowa (Bassia latifolia), resembling good oaks : 

 the natives distil a kind of arrack from its fleshy flowers, 

 which are also eaten raw. The seeds, too, yield a concrete 

 oil, by expression, which is used for lamps and occasionally 

 for frying. 



Some villages at the west base of the mountain occupy 

 abetter soil, and are surrounded with richer cultivation; 

 palms, mangos, and the tamarind, the first and last rare 



* Other plants gathered here, and very typical of the Flora of this dry region, 

 were Linum trigynum, Feronia elephantum, uEgle marmelos, Helicteres Asoca, 

 Abrus prccatorius, Flemingia ; various Desmodia, Rhynchosice, Glycine, and Grislea 

 tomentosa very abundant, Conocarpus latifolius, Loranthus longiflorus, and another 

 species ; Phyllanthus Eniblica, various Convolvuli, Cuscuta, and several herbaceous 

 Compositce. 



