1846. J and Bourun Passes over the Himalaya. 87 



The mountaineers of the Himalaya, like those of Gilead, invariably 

 convert the letter 5 into sh : so that the Shibboleth test must be revers- 

 ed to detect a Paharee ; they have also retained in common use a great 

 number of Hindooee words, which are seldom heard in the plains. 



Rooroo Kothee is situated about 150 feet above the right bank of the 

 Pabur, which, at this season is fordable here with difficulty. In com- 

 mon with similar valley sites in the mountains, the village is infested 

 with a small species of fly, which, without giving any notice, inflicts a 

 bite that is frequently attended with much irritation. The higher 

 mountains have also in the spring, their pest, in the shape of a large 

 gad-fly, a pitiless enemy of man and beast. 



The low glen of the Pabur, while it boasts abundance of the Rosa 

 brunonis, Indigofera dosua, Hypericum cernuum, Deutzia staminea, and 

 other flowering shrubs, possesses few or none of the beautiful her- 

 baceous plants of the Alpine rocks and pastures. The Marvel of Peru 

 (Mirabilis jalapa) however, grows in the greatest abundance and 

 luxuriance about Rooroo and several other villages, as well as about Kot- 

 khaee on the Girree, and on the outer range about Barh and Kalka ; 

 the climate of the Himalaya between 4,000 and 7,000 feet elevation, 

 brings it to such perfection that in all these places it is so completely 

 naturalized as to appear wild. Another American plant, the Martynia 

 diandra, is equally abundant near villages in the Turaee of Kemaon 

 towards Bhumouree. The Hypericum perforatum is a common shrub 

 in the cornfields of the Pabur and Girree vallies ; and on the rocks near 

 Rooroo and Deorah, I noticed the Linaria incana, resembling in habit 

 the L. cymbalaria of Europe. Desmodium tomentosum is also a com- 

 mon shrub on the rocks in the Pabur valley hereabouts, and on the 

 Sutluj above Wangtoo bridge, preferring the warmest exposures. 



There is an interesting route of three marches, from Rooroo Kothee vid 

 the Shikree Nudee, and over the Moraul ka Dunda, to Rampore on the 

 Sutluj, halting at Samurkot and Neura (or Neheree.) The country is 

 well peopled, and beautifully varied with forest and cultivation. In 

 May and June nothing can exceed the beauty of the wild roses, 

 (R. Brunonis) climbing up the dark pines and alders, and falling down 

 in splendid festoons of the most fragrant blossoms. Snow will be 

 found early in June on this route, when the heat at Rampore, imme- 

 diately below is almost intolerable. 



