418 The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. [May, 



July, the colour deep red, the petals spreading, distinct ; and scarcely 

 to be distinguished from those of V. tomentosa, " Chuppertain," a 

 resemblance noted in the Prodromus. The three species may be com- 

 pared growing in company on the Ramgar Gallery, though V. lanata 

 and tomentosa are rather rare in this locality. 



It is an agreeable task thus to vindicate the fair fame of one whom it 

 has recently been the fashion in Bengal to depreciate with a persever- 

 ance which would be amusing were it not malicious and dictated by 

 personal hostility. The Doctor gives a description ; it is rejected : he 

 gives none ; and is held up to our admiration with a " sine characte- 

 re ! ! !" Truly may he exclaim, we have piped unto you, and ye have 

 not danced, &c. 



In the vicinity of Peoorah, and generally over similar ground in Ku- 

 maoon, two forms occur, the tender fronds of which are commonly eaten, 

 and are sometimes brought to market. One, " Kootra" is the Nephro- 

 dium eriocarpum ; the other " Lingra," " Lioongra," " Leeoor," (a very 

 difficult sound) is the Asplenium polymorphium ; the first coming unto 

 season in spring, the second in autumn. 



Cinnamomum albhiorum : " Dalcheenee," K Kikra," is a common 

 plant in the valley of the Koomnia below Peoorah. 



December 29th. — To Almorah, 9 or 10 miles. There is a long de- 

 scent of about 1800 feet to the Koomnia river, which is passed by the 

 Synj Iron suspension Bridge ; then a rise of perhaps 1000 to the 

 Dheeakot Binaik, on the spur from Roulakot, a bluff point connected 

 with Bandunee Devee, and about 400 feet lower : — then a second-descent 

 to the Suwal (Salmulee or Semul) river, which is crossed by the " Lat" 

 Iron Suspension Bridge : and lastly, a tedious, rocky, very bare, and in 

 Summer exceedingly hot ascent of 1600 feet to Almorah, by no means 

 calculated to impress the visiter very favorably in the first instance. The 

 rocks are quartz, mica slate, (with freestone beds in the Huree Doongree,) 

 gneiss, and finally granite, which forms an entire mountain S. W. of the 

 station, and has apparently lifted up, and in some places, contorted the 

 others to a remarkable degree : to the south, indeed, the strata appear 

 to dip under the granite : they also contain in this neighbourhood the 

 quartz dykes supposed to indicate the action of granite. The quarries 

 of micaceous and quartzose rocks supply excellent materials for building 

 and roofing. 



