1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 363 



derange and alter the other rocks as usual. I have in my possession a 

 trilobite imbedded in limestone, discovered by my friend Major Samp- 

 son in the rubble platform on which Sirmouria, " the Swing village," is 

 built, between the 4 th and 5th milestones, on the descent to Kaleedhoon- 

 gee — the first, and as yet the last fossil afforded by Kumaoon ; (Vide 

 Plate — where it is drawn by Lt. R. S. of the natural size.) 



Houses have rapidly sprung up over most part of the settlement ; some 

 towards the crest of the limitary ranges are nearly 7500 feet above the 

 sea : even the rugged and woody Uyarpata is being gradually planted ; 

 but the favorite sites are on the undulating tract of forest land which 

 stretches back from the head of the lake to the base of Cheenur and 

 Deoputa ; in the S. W. angle of this area, about 260 feet above Nynee 

 Tal, is the Sookha Tal, dry except during the rains ; between this and 

 some fine limestone crags to the south, lies the road to Kaleedhoongee, 

 which, after an easy rise, at one mile from the Bazar, quits the valley 

 and descends rapidly to the plains, from the " Abelia" Pass, 6800 feet 

 above the sea. Near the Sookha Tal there is a curious circular basin, 

 with steep and exquisitely wooded banks, known as the Mulla Pokhur 

 or Upper Pool ; it has formerly perhaps been permanently submerged, 

 but, at present, for the best part of the year, forms a damp rich mea- 

 dow, decked with primulas and buttercups. 



From its vicinity to the plains, Nynee Tal enjoys the full benefit of 

 the "Dhoon Breeze," and, unless in the wet season, its temperature is 

 delicious ; then indeed, its weeping climate appears to resemble that of 

 the west of Ireland and Scotland ; more rain falls than at Mussooree, 

 and twice as much as at Almorah ; the last being screened by the Ga- 

 gur Range, which arrests and condenses the clouds to an incredible 

 degree, and bestows on the lake the first and principal squeeze of the 

 sponge which comes charged with the vapor of the Indian Ocean. 

 After these falls, one is deafened by the incessant and vociferous chir- 

 ping of innumerable cicalas : (Cicada pulchella.) 



" Cantu querulse rumpent arbusta cicadse." 



During the live-long night, the Singor, a small whitish owl, (Noctua 

 cuculoides,) repeats its monotonous double note at intervals of a few 

 minutes —the Nightingale of Kumaoon. 

 "As the wakeful bird 

 " Sings darkling, and, in shadiest covert hid, 

 " Tunes her noctural note." 



