392 The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon, [May, 



the Hebrews ; and many of them probably depart as suddenly ; at least 

 the adult population of the mountains is by no means in proportion to 

 the supply in these nurseries. Filth, exposure, and want of all medical 

 aid, must destroy one half of them ; but, like the shrimps noticed by 

 Paley, leaping on the sea sands, their brief existence is a merry one. 



But the tenants of the Goth by no means trust solely to their 

 cattle ; the neighbouring fields exhibit the finest crops of wheat, barley, 

 and mustard, the produce of the latter alone sufficing, it is said, to pay 

 the Government revenue. It is called "Dyn" or "Daeen," and 

 " Laee :" Sinapis glauca var. ? it is now in full bloom, reminding one of the 

 western " Praiseagh buidhe ;" and will be ripe in February and March.* 



These clearances are altogether dependent on artifical irrigation, and 

 are only to the found where streams debouche from the mountains, or 

 a few miles to either flank : in the intermediate localities, much of the 

 ground is too poor and stony to repay the expense of cultivation, while 

 already, the supply of water scarce equals the wants of the settlers, and 



* Several species of Sinapis are cultivated in Kumaoon for the oil, salad, or medicine 

 they yield. But as Dr. Royle, very truly says, the genus requires careful revision : 

 Roxburgh's descriptions, generally so accurate, are here imperfect, contradictory, or 

 identical : and recal the reasons of Hudibras— 



" His reasons fitted things so well, 

 That which was which he could not tell ; 

 But oftentimes mistook the one, 

 For the other, as great clerks have done," 

 according to the best of my judgment. 



" Kara" is Sinapis glauca, the " yellow Surson" of the plains, sent from the Seharun- 

 poor garden as " Bunga-surson ;" i. e. Bengal-surson. The natives of northern India 

 always understand this when they speak of Surson : the branches being solitary, it is not 

 S. juncea. 



"Dyn:" "Daeen:" "Laee." The commonest sp. in Kumaoon ; seems to be the 

 «' Toria" of northern India, which Dr. Royle identifies with S. glauca. 



" Though not so tall and stout a plant as the Kara, it has much the same habit, and is 

 equally glaucous. Its round petals, spreading siliques, and reddish brown seeds, induce 

 me to think it may be Roxburgh's Sinapis dichotoma : otherwise he does not allude to this 

 plant : but the stem is not dichotomous. It is either a variety of S. glauca, or a nearly 

 allied species. 



"Luhota," "Lyhta," cultivated intheBhabur under this name,seems to be the" Jurria'' 

 of Almorah, and probably the Kalee Surson of Seharunpoor, &c. : Sinapis dichotoma, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Royle. The seeds are nearly black ; Roxburgh's are described light brown. 



" Doowa." Eruca sativa : cultivated in the Bhabur, and variously known as " Tara," 

 " Sehooa," " Gohooa," from Oude northward. The stem is covered with reflexed hairs. 



"Teera." Raphanus raphanistrum 1 said to be cultivated about Benares. 



