744 Capt. Herbert's Tour from Almorah, &e. [No. 153. 



This village is small, rice is not grown, the elevation being too 

 great. Wheat* sown in October and cut in May. At Paton rice 

 is grown. At Almora they sow wheat latter end of November. 

 Half way it began to hail and rain, and continued to the village near- 

 ly. Encamped on a delightful grassy and level spot above the village ; 

 very cold. 



2d Dec. — Last night to my astonishment heard the Almora 

 gun, distance is upwards of 40 miles. I had doubts on the subject 

 till this morning at day-break, when I heard it again. 



Lovely morning, not a cloud visible. Hoar frost on the ground, and 

 tent all stiff with it. Temperature at 8 a. m. 41.5 moist, 35.5 glass 

 in shade 35. Bar. at 10± a. m. 23.005 ; 55, 44.5, 37-4 moist ; in tent 

 53.47- 



At 12 started for Marora. Steep ascent at first, with snow, to good 

 sized temple — Binsur. No account when built, a figure of the bull in 

 front, and iron bells hung about his neck as offerings; trees Deodar, all 

 male that I saw, and kursoo oaks ; rocks, gneiss the whole ridge from 

 temple level ; after two hours descent begins. Here observed barome- 

 ter, 2 p. m. 22.13, 54, 41.5, 37. Much snow, and descent very bad; 

 two hours of it to stream with an intermediate small ascent. At 

 stream fine Rons trees or Roons, also Neegalas ;f hemp J sown here, and 

 on the ascent to Dyra, which requires apparently a cold climate, was now 

 cut. From river easier descent, wheat fields two inches above ground. 

 Cross Sanee, a little below the confluence of the stream followed on two 

 planks, goodish stream ; road up its bed to Sarkot. (High Pass higher 

 than that crossed, by name Doodoo-ke-jolee. (B.) Sarkot a large village 

 with 60 houses.) Small ascent to Murora, village of 50 houses. Many 

 sheep and goats— former little fellows black, with short tails and curly 

 horns; unwilling to sell ; hemp soaking; arrived at 5 much fatigued, 

 five hours on road. Gneiss the whole way, in some places so soft and 

 earthy, as to be like the brown tender mica slate of Almora ; here 



* In all elevated places wheat is sown very early, in order that the young plant 

 may be strong before the frost and snow begin. In one day's march, young green 

 wheat and rice can be often seen. — J. H. B. 



t Ningalas, Hill bamboo, only found on high mountains.— J. H. B. 



$ Great quantities of fine hemp are grown in Gurhwal by the lower caste of Khus- 

 sias. The Kumaonees have a prejudice against growing it. — J. H. B. 



