1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 58.) 



Near Lohooghat, it passes through the Sooee groves of Deodar Cedars ; 

 these are extensive, and the tree has spread and perpetuated itself for 

 ages : but neither here nor in any other portion of the province does it 

 seem truly indigenous, being always found near temples and villages, 

 (the oldest and finest trees by the former), and never, so far as I 

 know, on the open mountains. Once over the Sooee heights, all ap- 

 pearance of undulating downs is lost, and the view resumes its usual 

 Chaotic character ; the road passes under the western face of Jhoom, 

 which is steep and precipitous ; and passes its contination in this 

 direction by the Kolakot ka Chheena ; a little beyond which, 4 miles 

 from Lohooghat, are the pretty hamlets of Jirkoona, perched under 

 steep crags of dolomite, and famous for the growth of excellent ginger. 

 To the right, Jhoom is continued to a high knob called Choomulkot, 

 below which is a grove of Deodars called Hegroo Banee, on the round- 

 ed back of a mountain, at the base of which flows the Surjoo. Pass- 

 ing above Barakot village, the road now reaches the Janghee-ka Koot- 

 kee, about a mile short of Dhurgura ; here for several hundred yards, 

 there is an almost perpendicular slope of grass and trees on the right, 

 the road itself descending steeply at the same time ; it was formerly a 

 very dangerous spot, and is still not very safe : Dr. V. of the Kumaoon 

 Battalion, fell over with his pony a few years since ; he had a miracu- 

 lous escape, but the pony was killed. There is a small, but welcome 

 Bungalow of two rooms at Dhurgura, which is reckoned about 5000 

 feet above the sea : the Fritillaria Thomsoniana is very abundant on the 

 Janghee ka Kootkee ; and about the Bungalow, the Bauhinia parviflora, 

 llottlera tinctoria, Poivrea Roxburghii, Hedera sesculifolia " Gur- 

 semul," &c. mark a warm site. The Thakil mountain is just across 

 the Surjoo ; its gigantic ribs, and rocky scarps, falling steeply towards 

 the river are very fine, and reminded me of Ben Nevis as seen from 

 Fort William (N. B.) On its western shoulder bearing E. N. E. from 

 Dhurgura, is the Kunthagaon Bungalow, about 500 feet lower, 8 or 9 

 miles distant by the road, but only 4 as the crow flies : between them 

 is the profound glen of the Surjoo river. 



In the afternoon descended to the Ramesur Bridge, 5 or G miles 

 distant, a considerable portion of the route pretty steep, and near the 

 Surjoo exceedingly so. The fact of the bridges being thrown across 

 the narrowest part of the rivers, ensures abrupt approaches. The only 



