28 HILLS OF BEHAR. Chap. II. 



and two species, one ochreous brown, and the other green, 

 occur on the margins of the tanks themselves, and in the 

 hottest water ; the brown is the best Salamander, and forms 

 a belt in deeper water than the green ; both appear in broad 

 luxuriant strata, wherever the temp, is cooled down to 168°, 

 and as low as 90°. Of flowering plants, three showed in 

 an eminent degree a constitution capable of resisting the 

 heat, if not a predilection for it j these were all Cyperaccce, 

 a Cyperus and an Eleocharis, having their roots in water of 

 100°, and where they are probably exposed to greater heat, 

 and a Fimbristylis at 98° ; all were very luxuriant. From 

 the edges of the four hot springs I gathered sixteen species 

 of flowering plants, and from the cold tank five, which did 

 not grow in the hot. A water-beetle, Colymbetes(?) and Noto- 

 necta, abounded in water at 112°, with quantities of dead 

 shells; frogs were very lively, with live shells, at 90°, and with 

 various other water beetles. Having no means of detecting 

 the salts of this water, I bottled some for future analysis.* 



On the following day I botanized in the neighbourhood, 

 with but poor success. An oblique-leaved fig climbs the 

 other trees, and generally strangles them : two epiphytal 

 Orclddece also occur on the latter, Vanda Moxburghii and an 

 Oberonia. Dodders (Cuscuta) of two species, and Cassytha, 

 swarm over and conceal the bushes with their yellow 

 thread-like stems. 



I left Belcuppee on the 8 th of February, following 

 Mr. Williams' camp. The morning was clear and cold, 

 the temperature only 56°. We crossed the nearly dry 

 broad bed of the Burkutta river, a noble stream during the 

 rains, carrying along huge boulders of granite and gneiss. 

 Near this I passed the Cholera-tree, a famous peepul by 



* For an account of the Conferva?, and of the mineral constituents of the 

 waters, &c. see Appendix B. 



