412 The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kwnaoon. [MiIy, 



Sopubia parviflora is in abundance at from 7000 — 8000 feet, above 

 Borakot. 



Towards the lower limit of Quercus lanuginosa, in dense damp forest 

 near Jilwa Deo, at the foot of Sat-choolia, I came unexpectedly on 

 several low plants of the Thakil Palm, Chamserops martiana (vel Khas- 

 yana), which I afterwards found of similar dimensions considerably 

 north of this on the Bhatkot mountain. Should future search not brina; 

 taller specimens to light, the dwarf stature of these may be accepted as 

 an indication that the tree attains hereabouts its western limit. 



27th December. — To the Sat-choolia (or Sut-boonga)summits, a walk 

 of three hours E. S. E. from the Ramgar Bungalow: the distance 

 greatly exceeds the estimate, consequent on the suppression from below 

 of several long and comparatively bad ridges. No guide being procur- 

 able, we went to work bull-dog fashion, descending t to a branch of the 

 Borakot stream, and then breasting an almost precipitous acclivity. A 

 much easier way is to ascend a mile or more towards the Gagur Pass, 

 and then strike off eastward, through beautiful forests to the col, east 

 of the rural shrine Jilwa Deo, where at the termination of the green- 

 stone, elevation 6800 feet, the routes meet. Hence to the summit, the 

 ascent is somewhat difficult, the huge crags and cliffs of quartz rock, 

 which constitutes all the upper portion of the mountain, offering consi- 

 derable obstacles. The western summit, elevated 8450 feet (R. S.), or 

 about 100 less than Cheenur, consists of a ridge level for a few hundred 

 yards from north to south, but of no width : about half an hour's walk, 

 east, and divided by a neck depressed 150 to 200 feet, is a more roomy 

 summit, apparently of equal altitude, devoid of timber, and wholly 

 overgrown with Cher ay ut a (Ophelia cordata and purpurascens) ; on this 

 is a cairn and mast of the Trigonometrical survey. 



There is no water on the western face of this group for the last 3000 

 feet : but it probably would be found at no great distance down the 

 woody glen facing the north, — Marks of wild animals were abundant, 

 hog, deer, &c. ; several surrow, ghoorul, and kakur, showed themselves, 

 as well as the foot prints and other vestiges of tigers, which roam all over 

 Kumaoon in the hot and rainy seasons : the mountaineers firmly believe 

 them to be very regular in their devotions to Devee on the high places. 



Choola and Chooda, or Choor, arc identical terms, signifying * head,' 

 'crest,' &c, from chool to elevate, and are distinct from choolee, a fire- 



