1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 56/ 



1 coss ; this is rather a large settlement, still tenanted by people from 

 Chumpawut. Nearly opposite this, at the base of the mountain is 

 Bushtia village, above which are the fort and pass of Timla, leading to 

 Chumpawut, and crossing the Ludheea river at Kela Ghat. Timla fort 

 is 3908 feet above Calcutta ; Kela Ghat 2204 ; — it was by this route 

 that Captains Gardner and Hearsay invaded Kumaoon in 1814, but 

 miscalculating the strategy and bravery of the enemy, were defeated 

 and taken prisoners by Hustee Dul near Khilputee, and carried to 

 Almorah. The pass is said to be very easy, and as the only made road 

 goes round by Burmdeo, it is in contemplation to construct one here, 

 which would greatly benefit the communication between Suniya and 

 Chumpawut. Limestone is to be had at Choonapanee, somewhere near 

 Bushtia, 1587 feet above Calcutta. Dana Goth is situated on the N. 

 W. bank of a wide stony channel, the Keela rowl ; the path crosses 

 this and keeps its left bank for half a mile towards Khulooa Kholee, 

 1 coss : and then proceeds via Ginda Khalee and Bhewria Khalee to 

 Burm Deo. At these last clearings, and others in this direction, rice, 

 ghweeas, turmeric, &c, are cultivated in the hot and rainy seasons : but 

 the farmers all take refuge nightly in the mountains ; the young plants 

 are protected from the heat of the sun in April and May by screens of 

 Sal branches with their leaves, which check the evaporation. From 

 this point the Sooa river is seen entering the Kalee about 2 coss south of 

 Burm Deo : it flows in a very wide stony bed, and comes from the west, 

 apparently combining all the streams which do not join the Dewa. 

 Somewhere on its banks the Gorkhalees under Hustee Dul were defeat- 

 ed by the Rohillas. 



Bhewria Khalee is about one coss from Burm Deo, on the brink of 

 the low Kadir land, which seems admirably fitted for cultivation, but is 

 very partially tilled. As far as Chela Goth, the path to-day was bad, 

 with several steep stony ascents and descents at the torrents which 

 cross it ; from Chela Goth there is a hackery track through the forest 

 to Burm Deo ; but the guides frequently adopted short cuts, which 

 were bad enough. 



Burm Deo is the great mart for Eastern or Kalee Kumaoon, and the 

 Gorkhalee province of Dotee. Its proper name is Moondias, Burin Deo 

 being a Goth about a mile north, the limit of wheeled carriages, oppo- 

 site to which the Kalee pours down in its last rapid. Here it is said 



