1 160 Visit to Melum and the Oonta [No. 132. 



set it up. The vegetables up the ascent consisted chiefly of a 

 species of potentilla and dwarf juniper, which did not rise more than 

 six inches from the ground. On the descent, the rocky fragments 

 continued much lower down than on the opposite side without ve- 

 getation. The descent occupied two and half hours near the bed of the 

 Goree river, whose course* here, towards Melum, is about N. W. and 

 by N., when it takes a direction more to the N. Crossed a small 

 torrent near its junction with the Goree on a sanga. The tempera- 

 ture of the water was 46°, air 51°, and moist thermometer 48°. The 

 snow continued to fall for about two hours from 1 2 to 2 p. m., and for 

 about three-quarters down the descent, when thermometer rose to 40° ; 

 towards the bottom of the descent, the neighbouring mountains cover- 

 ed with birch jungle and a species of dwarf rhododendron. Arrived 

 at the village of Tola, consisting of from thirty to forty houses at 

 4h. 25m. p. m., being about seven hours on the road ; being one of the 

 most fatiguing marches I ever made. The rock down the descent, 

 chiefly clay slate. The sides of the mountains near Tola have a very 

 shattered and precipitous appearance. 



\Sth September. — A halt, a fine clear day, 9 a. m. thermometer 49° ; 

 2 p. m. air 62°, in sun 66° ; moist thermometer 51°. In the sun covered 

 with wool (black,) and laid on a dark soil, it rose to 117°. Nunda 

 Debee visible, bearing West. Two days journey from this village, a good 

 deal of level ground, well cultivated, in the neighbourhood of Tola. 

 The inhabitants dirty and ill-looking, and the village surrounded by 

 filth ; demand one rupee for six and half seers of attah, which at 

 Munsaree, six days' journey the direct road, was procured at the rate 

 of twenty-four seers per rupee. They have here fine Tartar sheep, for 

 which they ask two rupees each ; they have nearly twice the bulk 

 of a Plain sheep, and have long twisted horns. — 4h. 15m. p. m. baro- 

 meter 20.235, air 765.5, moist thermometer 47°. 



N. B. — Purchased three large Tartar sheep for two rupees each, two 

 of them a male and one female for breeding, j 



* Vide note marked f preceding page — J. H. B. 

 f Lieut. J. A. Weller, Executive Engineer and Officiating Assistant to the Com- 

 missioner of Kumaon, has just arrived from a tour to Juwahir, and has kindly added 

 some side notes to this Journal in addition to my own ; besides very handsomely 

 placing parts of his own Journal at my disposal for the use of the Asiatic Society.— 

 J. H. B. 



