1849.] Kohistan of the Jullundhur. 375 



Near Nagrota, but on the opposite side of the stream, grow a couple 

 of the largest silk cotton trees (Bombax heptaphylla) I have ever 

 seen. The one I measured was 24 feet in girth. There is a banian 

 tree at Juck-o-burr measuring 38^ feet in circumference, but what are 

 these to the noble cypress trees of Mexico, or the still more extra- 

 ordinary jana trees of Australia, and the locust trees of southern 

 America ?* 



25. The next march and a half are about the most tiresome that 

 could be imagined. The road lies along the bottom of a deep and ser- 

 pentine ravine with the Guj flowing through it, which stream has to be 

 forded 51 times before the Kangra valley can be entered ! — several of the 

 fords are 3 feet deep, the current is strong, and the bed of the torrent 

 covered with boulders of every possible dimension. Travelled masses 

 of granite too, those stumbling blocks to erratic geologists, are every- 

 where scattered about. This ravine is about 13 miles in length and is 

 by no means a safe route to take, as any sudden shower of rain in- 

 creases considerably the depths of the fords and renders them danger- 

 ous, if not impassible. Its average breadth is about 300 yards, but it 

 contracts a good deal in some parts, whilst it widens in others and 

 forms valleys. Some low bush jungle with a few cheels grow on the 

 hills on either side. The dates are well cultivated, whilst here and 

 there the gentler slopes are terraced into fields. The siege train was 

 taken by this route in 1846. Tutti-pani is the usual halting place, 

 and is 9 miles from Nagrota. This spot has derived its name from a 

 hot spring which issued from the hills forming the north-western boun- 

 dary of the valley. The hills around are composed of strata of sand- 

 stone and marls and conformable beds of conglomerate. The length 

 of the valley is about 1 \ mile and its breadth a quarter. It is more- 

 over divided into two nearly equal parts by a low spur. The soil at its 

 base is a stiff red clay well suited for brick making. The brahmans as 

 usual have taken advantage of the hot spring and covered it over with 

 a temple, surrounding the exterior with peepul and other trees. They 

 have also fixed an artificial stone pipe for the jet-d'eau to run 

 through, whilst they collect its tepid waters in a small tank for the pur- 

 pose of enabling the pious Hindu to bathe in. 



* Vide Humbolt's" Personal Narrative," Lander's "Bushman, or Life in a 

 new country," and Lindley's " Vegetable Kingdom." 



3 c 



