3/8 The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. [May, 



Binaik. Dr. Wilson gives us as the signification of " Vinayuk," "an 

 obstacle," &c. : but as modernized in Kumaoon, the import is that of " a 

 Pass," originally perhaps defended by entrenchments, and therefore 

 equivalent to " a Barrier." 



The rock at and above Kotah Gurhee is the usual sandstone ; above 

 this is limestone : the three Kotah Peaks seem chiefly quartzose rock, 

 and Budhan Dhoora, the same mixed with slate, dipping N. E. as usual ; 

 an eruption of greenstone occurs at Sour village on its southern declivity. 



The vegetation of the Kotah Pass differs little from that of analogous 

 localities ; about half way up, at Sut-dhoonga, the rocks and trees are 

 covered with graceful festoons of Hoya lanceolata or pendula : and every 

 where the damper and shadier recesses are overgrown by the beautiful 

 reed-like " Ounsa," Thysanolsena agrostis (Agrostis maxima, Roxb.) of 

 which the leaves are considered excellent fodder for cattle. This plant, 

 which penetrates by the vallies to the base of the snowy range, disap- 

 pears at Almorah. Grewia hirsuta (W. and A.) occurs below Sut- 

 dhoonga. 



Jatropha curcas : " sufed Eend," is common about Kotah, and gene- 

 rally along the base of the mountains. 



The forest in the Dhoon is generally constituted of — 



Schleichera trijuga : " Koosum." " Gousum," yields an edible fruit, 

 and a hard, heavy red timber, much used in sugar-mills, &c. 



Falconeria insignis : " Khinna." " Kheena." 40 to 50 feet high : 

 it is found in the mountains up to 5500 feet, reduced to about one 

 fourth the height, and universally killed to the ground in the winter of 

 1846-47. The acrid milky sap is said to be poisonous, and very 

 dangerous to the eyesight, like Khirnee (Mimusops Kauki, the name 

 is probably derived from this milk, (Ksheer.) 



Bassia latifolia : " Muhooa." 



Alstonia scholaris : " Chhatiyoon" and " Sutiyoon." Nowhere un- 

 common in the Kumaoon Bhabur : I have met it near Khuruk in the 

 Dehra Dhoon. 



Diospyrus lancisefolia : " Urdinia :" extends to 3500 feet on the 

 outer range. 



Cocculus laurifolius : "Tilbura;" often confounded with " Kir- 

 kiria" and " Kikra," Cinnamomum albiflorum. 



Smilax macrophylla : " Kukurdar." 



