598 The Taraee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. [June, 



puce-colored, the back of the neck, brownish. Their food is the 

 acorn of Quercus incana, which is equally relished by bear and langoor ; 

 they are common in Kumaoon at similar elevations. The Alpine 

 Lammergeyer (Gypaetos barbatus) "whose happy flight is highest 

 into heaven," soars majestically along the precipices ; its Kumaoon 

 name is Reeshee, and the people here and in Gurhwal generally iden- 

 tify it with the Guroor or Bird of Vishnoo ; it probably is the primi- 

 tive "vehicle" of the god ; but at -Budreenath, Guroor is represented 

 by a winged boy, a Himalayan Ganymede. 



March 25th. — From Lohooghat to Furka, 9 miles: road good, at 

 about 4 miles passing immediately below Kotulgurh or Fort Hastings, 

 to the south, and perhaps 600 feet lower. The elevation of the fort 

 above Calcutta is 6327 feet; it occupies a steep knoll, 150 to 200 

 feet above the general level of the mountain, separated by a deep neck 

 from a plateau to E. N. E., on which stood an outpost called Rounj, 

 from which Kotulgurh could be easily battered. The area comprises 

 a tract about eighty yards from N. to S. and twelve or fourteen from 

 east to west : surrounded by a good stone wall eight to ten feet high, 

 and five thick. The gate is on the E. N. E. side : and there is a pos- 

 tern at the N. W. angle. There is a deep reservoir, but no water 

 in the place ; the nearest supply is under Rounj to the S. E. a mile 

 distant : there is also a small spring to the west ; were the reservoir 

 water-tight, and filled, the position, though somewhat open to escalade, 

 would be rather a strong one ; except from the east, the approaches 

 are extremely steep. The garrison consists of a Naick and four Sipa- 

 hees, retained simply to protect some spare timber, &c. ; as the spot 

 aifords no supplies they depart daily to Lohooghat for their dinner, 

 and assured me that the stronghold of Banasoor takes very good care 

 of itself ; it is destined to be dismantled shortly. The place was in- 

 tended to command the very pretty and extensively cultivated valley 

 of Bisoong, which, with its groups of villages and clumps of trees lies 

 below to the south and west. In the fields Papaver glabrum, Tulipa 

 stellata, Ranunculus arvensis, and Lotus corniculatus by the streams _, 

 are very abundant, the first two and the last now in full bloom. A 

 gentle ascent leads to the head of the glen at a fine Deodar wood, sacred 

 jo Dernath Devee. Here the slate rocks change to granite, which 

 continues to Furka, mostly in a state of complete disintegration. Hence 



