1158 Visit to Melum and the Oonta [No. 132. 



The scientific geologist and naturalist will perhaps at first regret 

 that they do not find more details falling in with their studies, but we 

 must beg of them to reffect that the writers and editors of such papers, 

 though they may lay no calm to scientific qualifications (so difficult 

 to acquire in India,) are nevertheless rendering a service of first rate 

 importance to the cause of science; and this is the important service of 

 pioneering We could say much on this subject, for few remember, 

 and many keep out of sight, what they owe to the humble and often 

 forgotten labours of those who have undertaken the thankless work of 

 chronicling a first exploration, or their first labours in a new branch of 

 science: but we may comprise it all in a single question. What 

 will not some future Humboldt, with guides like these ready to mark 

 out his path, be able to accomplish amongst the yet hidden wonders 

 of the stupendous mountains of India ? — H. P. 



\5th September. — First march beyond Booee* up the bed of the 

 Specimens Raalim torrent ; fall of the torrent very great ; di- 

 rection of it about N. and by E. About six miles 

 up, another stream falls into it, whose course is about E. N. E. when 

 the former turned a little to the west of North. 



N. B Crossed the stream over a snow-bed at the Saba (or Great) 



Oodear. A specimen of red raspberry, ripe, and very pleasant to the 

 palate. Marched at 7h. 50m. and reached our ground at 4h. 5m., 

 distance about twelve miles, road pretty good. No tent up; slept 

 under a large rock (or Oodearf) ; heavy rain during the night. At 

 6 p. m. thermometer 50°. 



16th September. — 7 a. m. thermometer 45° ; barometer 20.250 ; t. m. 

 and air 52° ; m. t. 45° 5'. Marched at lOh. 36m. a. m. The road con- 

 tinued for a mile up the bed of the torrent, the rock chiefly gneiss, little 

 or no granite ; ground on the right bank sloping, steep on the left, stra- 

 ta generally dipping to the N. E. ; commenced a short but steep ascent 

 from the torrent, passed through a few birch trees, (the only ones on 



* In Webb's map, (Indian Atlas, No. 66,) Bhooeeon the left bank of the Goree river 

 is noted, above which to the north are also marked the Snowy Peaks, Nos. XVI, XVII, 

 and XVI II of the Kumaon Survey, on the same side of that river; but no mention ismade 

 of the Raalim river which joins the Goree opposite the Pass called Leepooke Than, or 

 Hurdol, and beneath the Peaks XVI and XVII. When the route by the Goree, 

 owing to the loss of bridges or an unusual fall of snow, or the carrying away of the road 

 is closed, the Juwahir Bhootias proceed to Raalim along the torrent of that name, and 

 so on towards Melum.— J. H. B. 



f Odhear is a cave, or any arched recess in the rocks, and used by the Bhootias for 

 the shelter of themselves and sheep with their loads.-— J. H. B. 



