938 Journal of a trip through Kunawur. [Nov. 



the account given me by Puttee Ram of the results of Gerard's 

 experiments. 



Our path now again lay buried deep beneath the snows which 

 were spread on the northern face in a sheet from the crest of the 

 hills to many hundred yards below us. Here too, although it was both 

 deeper and extending farther down than on Koonung pass, the gradual 

 descent of the mountain's side made it far less fatiguing to walk over. 

 We left the pass at eleven o'clock, and though we ran at a good jog-trot 

 sort of a pace down the hill, it took us nearly three quarters of an 

 hour by the watch ere we had cleared the first unbroken field of snow. 

 Beyond this it was lying in patches, and here and there quite sloppy, so 

 that my shoes, stockings, and half way up my legs were wetted through 

 in a few minutes ; lower down still, the water was running in deep 

 streams from the snow, and as the track which had been dignified with 

 the name of a road, was somewhat hollowed out on the mountain's 

 side by the action of the feet of sheep and men, it of course formed a 

 capital aqueduct, and accordingly a pure crystal stream ran along it, 

 in which we were obliged to walk ancle deep (for there was no other 

 safe footing to be had) for a couple of miles nearly, the temperature 

 of the water being 43°, while that of the sun was burning over our 

 heads at 90°. After about three hours walking and sliding by turns, 

 we reached Hungo, a miserable ruinous village situated in a dreary 

 glen at the foot of the pass, on a large and nearly flat tract of well cul- 

 tivated land, at an elevation of 11,413 feet, and about 3,624 feet 

 below the crest of the Hungrung pass. The snow was lying in a solid 

 mass from the top of one of the glens arising from near the summit of 

 the surrounding heights, down to within 150 feet of Hungo. This is 

 however a most unusual occurrence at this season of the year, the snows 

 having generally all disappeared from these heights by the beginning or 

 middle of May, excepting in some of the deep recesses and ravines at 

 the very summit of the range. Not a tree was to be seen, even at this 

 elevation, except a few sickly looking poplars on the banks of a stream 

 below the village, all of which had been planted there by the hand of 

 man. The hills rising immediately behind this village are not 

 however bare and barren, but are well covered with the furze already 

 mentioned, which was just beginning to put forth its beautiful yellow 

 flowers. Along with it was another species which until to day 

 we had not noticed ; it is smaller than the other,, bears the same 

 yellow flower, and extends to a much greater elevation ; both are 

 called " Tama," but the last mentioned is distinguished as " Cheenka 

 Tama" or Chinese furze. The other species is termed by Gerard 



