910 Journal of a trip through Kunatvur. [Nov. 



From Mujowlee we descended into a steep khud or glen, at the 

 bottom of which by a frail and ricketty sangho of twigs, which is con- 

 tinually carried away by the rise of the waters, we crossed a stream 

 which runs down and joins the Sutledge about a mile or two lower. 

 From this we toiled up a long and steep ascent on the side of a hill, 

 very prettily wooded with oaks, firs, horse chesnuts, walnuts, peaches, 

 apricots and bukkines, intermingled with the raspberry, blackberry, 

 and white dog-rose. The number of fine mulberry trees which for 

 the last few marches had every where occurred near villages, led me 

 to inquire if the silk- worm was known to the people, and if so, why 

 they did not import and cultivate it. Such an insect it seemed had 

 been heard of, but nobody appeared to know what it was like, nor had 

 any one ever thought of introducing it to the hills ; and the reply was, 

 " We are hill people, what do we know of silk- worms?" 



Nevertheless I see no reason why the insect should not thrive well 

 in these villages along the Sutledge, where the summer enjoys a 

 warmth unknown to Europe, and where the winter is certainly not so 

 severe as in our native land. Food for the insect is in abundance, 

 and is at present useless. At Simla, in the summer of 1837, I saw 

 many caterpillars of a species of silk- worm feeding on a mulberry tree, 

 in a garden there, which shows that very little care would cause it to 

 become an useful article of trade in the lower hills. It is indeed 

 very probable that the insect does already occur in the places I have 

 alluded to, although it is at present unknown to the inhabitants, who 

 are too busily employed in the cultivation of their fields to bestow a 

 thought on " Entomology \" 



Were the insect introduced, and the people instructed in its manage- 

 ment, which could be easily done by sending skilful hands from the 

 plains, I have no doubt, from conversations which I held with them 

 on the subject, that they would gladly give their attention to its culti- 

 vation; but the introduction of it must be made by those who are in 

 some authority, as the people themselves are far too poor to run the 

 risk of expense which any experiment might entail upon them. 



After gaining the summit of the ascent from Mujowlee we leave 

 the pergunnah of Dussow, and drop over the frontier ridge of the 

 district of Kunawur, arriving by a short and gradual descent at the 

 town of Sarahun. 



This is the usual summer residence of the Bussaher Rajah, who 

 flies from the heat of his capital in the month of May, and returns 

 again in time for the annual fair of November. 



The elevation of Sarahun is about 7 ; 300 feet above the sea, and it 



