448 The Titraee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. [May, 



The second route, which I followed, contrary to certain visionary 

 objections of Choundhree Burgulia the Teekadar of Chorguliya, keeps to 

 the forest, close under the mountains : it cannot be traversed after 

 March, as the Goths, which furnish the necessary guides, are then 

 deserted ; and even in March it is desirable to travel by night and by 

 moonlight : the heat in the day time is very great, and such is the 

 intricacy of the forest, and the narrowness of the path, that one cannot 

 well get on beyond a walk. There is a direct path under the moun- 

 tains from Jam via Dhaktuliya to Joulasal. Near Jam occurs a very 

 beautiful and exceedingly bushy Acacia called Bhes either dumosa or 

 latronum ; and on the Dewa we first meet a large scandent Dalbergia 

 probably D. volubilis ; it is called Bhuteea, and becomes more and 

 more common as we advance to the East. In swampy places the Ran- 

 dia uliginosa, a handsome shrub, abounds; it is called "Pindara/ 

 " Pindaloo," and yields an edible fruit when cooked. 



March \Qth. — To Joulasal, called 7 coss, about 10 miles, East: 

 crossing the Dewa, passed a large Goth called Kulluga, 964 feet above 

 Calcutta : here the path again abuts on the mountains, and skirts them 

 to Hathgar, another large Goth about half way to Joulasal, behind 

 which the mountains recede in a beautiful bay. These are mere sta- 

 tions of shepherds and wood-cutters ; there is not a vestige of cultivation 

 between Chorguliya and the vicinity of Burm Deo. The second half of 

 the route is through still denser forest than the first, composed of Sal, 

 Dhak, Huldoo, Saj, Jamun, Rai-jamun, Amla, Bhuliou, Sahujna, 

 Koombh, Amultas, Rolee, Hymenodyction, Callicarpa lanata, (" Ghi- 

 wala," " Dera,") Casearia cheela, (cheela, cheelara,) Hibiscus lampas : 

 and in several places Symplocos racemosa. Near Joulasal, occur Ficus 

 nitida, Trewia nudiflora, " Toomree," and a tall species of Globba, 

 " Soura," " Sara :" growing in swamps. The whole of this tract affords 

 large supplies of timber, bamboos, and grass, which is hereabouts ex- 

 ceedingly high and thick. At the Goths the Babur grass, brought 

 from the hills, is stacked extensively for the dealers from the Plains : 

 the people are also collecting the capsales of the Rolee (Rottlera) for 

 the red dye they are covered with. This forest stands on a high level, 

 and is intersected by low belts of prairie : contrary to its usual cha- 

 racter, the water reaches to within 5 or 6 feet of the surface, and in 

 some places still less. Old obees or elephant pits are met, with scattered 

 all over Choubhynsia ; and about half way between Hathgar and Jou- 



