1843.] Trip to the Bulcha and Oonta Dhoora Passes. 97 



more severe than I expected,) and reached the summit at lOh. 24m., 

 having been delayed a few minutes by one of the jooboos turning re- 

 fractory.* 



On the summit is a small debta, or heap of stones, with two or three 

 pieces of rag tied on sticks, and to this Nagoo and Dhun Sing added a 

 stone or two, they then salamed to the country below, and I began 

 my questions. Instead of a plain which I had expected to see, the 

 country is formed of alternate low hills and table lands, with a rauge of 

 higher hills (well sprinkled with snow) in the distance, running N. W. 

 to S. E. Missr is at the foot of this range, on the South face ; the road 

 from Gurtope to Tuklakote runs along the base of the same face, and it 

 was by this route the Seikhs advanced last year. The Bulcha Pass 

 must be fully as high as Oonta Dhoora ; and although the weather wais 

 quite mild to-day, Nagoo assured me it was rarely the case, and that 

 the wind and cold of Bulcha were more dreaded than those of Oonta. 

 There was a thick haze Northward, and I could not therefore dis- 

 tinguish any thing clearly with my telescope. Chungnoo is, I believe, 

 the only village to be seen. On the North face of Bulcha, a small 

 stream, the Jhunkoo, rises, flowing North and a little West. This 

 is joined by a stream coming from past Chirchun, and the two 

 united form the Trisum river, which I could see in the distance, 

 flowing North-westerly, a good sized river. To the Southward the 

 peaks of Nundee Devi were visible, the larger one bearing South-west 

 by South, also the Gertee peak S. W. Oonta Dhoora was not visible, 

 being obscured by (I think) the Lavur hill (N.), however, I knew its 

 direction exactly by the neighbouring peaks, and the bearing was due 

 South. Round as far as to the West and a little North, the hills 

 towards Mana were visible. From Bulcha it is two marches to 

 Neetee, the intermediate halting place being Hotee. 



'eari 



ng from Bulcha. 



Name of Place. 



No. of days journey 

 for laden Sheep. 



. E. 



a little, N. 



Chungnoo, 



Three. 



. E. 





Missr, 



Four. 



* In the valley were a few pigeons and choughs, also the Iris plover. There was 

 a little snow here and there ; also in the hill to the East, but none on those to the 

 West. Towards the top of the ascent was a tolerable quantity of snow, but in detach- 

 ed portions. 



O 



