1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 589 



March \%th. — To Pithoragurh, 14 miles. The ascent northwards 

 to Kunthagaon Bungalow, is long but generally easy, the road being 

 well lined, the Surjoo flowing, often in rapids, immediately below. To 

 the trees enumerated on the opposite bank may be added Kydia caly- 

 cina, Lantana dubia, a shrubby Procris, Gynaion vestita " Peen," 

 Edwardsia mollis, Bassia butyracea " Chyoora," the last in great abun- 

 dance, reaching the size of a large tree as high up as Kunthagaon, 

 4000 feet. The name probably comes from the Sanscrit choorn to 

 pound, oil impregnated with the essence of flower, pounded sandal, &c. : 

 or from Kshood, to bruise, to pound, whence Kshoudru, " honey, bee, 

 and Michelia champaca :" but the signification Bassia is unknown to 

 the dictionaries, as is " Phoolel," the " butter" made from the fruit to 

 the hill people, who call it " Chyoora ka peena," — " fat of the Bassia." 

 The tree flowers in November, and from its blossoms and those of the 

 " Joundela," iEchmanthera gossypina, which is in the greatest abun- 

 dance about Kunthagaon, bees are supposed to make the best honey 

 and hence that of Pithoragurh and Dotee is in much request. 



Basella alba, " Koee," " Belia-palung" is cultivated in some of the 

 villages about Ramesur. 



Approaching Kunthagaon, the road turns to the right up the 

 glen of the Gunnik or Jameer (Citron) river, presenting the finest 

 rock scenery in outer Kumaoon. The torrent roars at a great 

 depth below, veiled by the most beautiful woods : the north bank 

 rises in a splendid facade of crags, called Baroonee or Barooree, 

 to the N. E. of which is a still loftier and very precipitous range, call- 

 ed Mason and Bissar, amongst the acclivities of which are two hamlets 

 called Jak Pooran. There are several fine cascades from the precipices, 

 which are apparently all limestone. On the south side of the glen, 

 the road to Pithora is, for 2 or 3 miles, carried along the N. W. flank 

 of Thakil, falling to the Gunnik in steeps and precipices by no means 

 agreeable to the equestrian, though the road itself is good. Kuntha- 

 gaon Bungalow stands on the brink of a tremendous steep, to the 

 S. E. of which is a lofty peaked precipice from which it is named. 

 This supports a petty village called Goguna (Sauravia :) the distance 

 is 1 7 miles from Lohooghat, 1 from Pithora. Two miles from Kun- 

 thagaon is Goon or Goorna village, where the worst part of the road is 

 over, and there is some level cultivation. About Goon, Herbert notices 



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