1837.] Journal of a Trip to the Burenda Pass in 1836. 905 



Here we found that beautiful little flower, parochetus communis, 

 figured in Royle's Illustrations. It was growing in profusion among 

 the damp rocks and caves on the banks of the stream. I have since 

 found that it is common also at Simla. 



In the morning just before daybreak on the 25th we heard the hill 

 blackbirds singing very sweetly from the woods above us. The song 

 is not unlike that of the European blackbird. These beautiful birds 

 commence singing about the middle of autumn and continue their 

 songs throughout the winter and spring, after which they betake 

 themselves to the interior, being autumnal and winter visitants rather 

 than constant residents of the lower hills, although a few maybe 

 occasionally met with throughout the year. In the winter season 

 they are found as low down as the vale of Pinjore. 



At daybreak on the 26th September we ascended a very steep 

 hill towards Ndgkunda, breakfasting about half-way, by the side of a 

 hill stream and then continuing our journey. On this road are plenty 

 of chicores and a few were shot by the party. 



At Ndgkunda we found two gentlemen from Simla who had come 

 thus far to see the beauties of the interior before leaving India for 

 home. In consequence of this rencontre we halted a day and beat the 

 wood for game. Some plass and khalij pheasants were killed, 

 and a male musk deer was brought in by one of the shikari. 



The bungalow at this place is larger than those of Fdgu and 

 Mattidna, possessing one large and two small rooms, which afford 

 very comfortable accommodation to travellers. The elevation is 

 9016 feet. 



The scenery from this place is very beautiful. 



The cantonment of Kotgarh is seen in a slope in the distance, and is 

 much lower than Ndgkunda, and surrounded by mountains of every 

 shade, from the deepest forest green, to the bare and barren rock, 

 while the long line of eternal snows towers far above them all in the 

 back ground. In the khads below the bungalow we found several 

 nut trees with fruit on them, and very similar to filberts in appear- 

 ance, but all were rotten, and judging from the number of nuts strewed 

 upon the ground, all of which were likewise rotten and were the fruit 

 of the preceding year, I should be inclined to think that few ever 

 ripened. Dr. Gerard mentions having found them rotten in 1818. 



The nut tree here grows to a good size, and unlike the hazel bushes 

 of Europe, is really a large tree, springing up some height before the 

 branches spread out, and the trunks of many exceeding a man's body 

 in girth. Thetallest trees must have been from 30 to 40 feet high 

 at least. 



