610 The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. [June, 



march is always pretty and frequently eminently beautiful, especially 

 the vistas up the lateral vallies. The river winds greatly, sometimes 

 abruptly, flowing in rocky beds, or over broad stony channels ; the 

 banks are fringed with willow, Quercus incana, and annulata, Ilex 

 excelsa, Nerium odorum, Photinia dubia, Rosa Brunonii, and most 

 luxuriant Pomegranate trees ; the last four are now in full bloom ; the 

 Photinia one mass of Hawthorn-like flowers. The upper portions of 

 the mountains are covered with Cheer : lower down, the cultivation is 

 pretty general. About three miles short of Somesur, on the left bank 

 of the river, immediately under the furrowed side of Gunnanath, there 

 is a long tract of rich and very level ground, covered with the finest 

 wheat, now nearly ripe ; it is called Soopeh Kot, and is continued to 

 and above Somesur, which is placed in the fork of the Kossilla, and 

 Salee or Salmulee rivers, in one of the richest and most lovely vallies of 

 the Himalaya. The elevation is probably 4700 feet above Calcutta, 

 which ensures a warm climate and myriads of flies at this season ; 

 Baalzebub, their king, certainly keeps his court here : the spot however 

 is sacred to Muhadev, as " master of the Moon." His temple stands 

 between two fine deodars, outside which are many shady walnut trees, 

 under which we encamped. The district comprizes 50 to 60 villages, 

 the revenue of which is about 4000 rupees : but many Brahmans are 

 settled, or have possessions hereabouts, whose property is rent-free. 



Somesur probably owes its sanctity to the junction here of two other 

 streams with the Kossilla, viz., the Salee from the west, and the Mun- 

 saree Roul from the east. The last rises on the N. E. side of Gunna- 

 nath, in the pass called Giri-chheena, which separates the affluents of 

 the Kossilla from those of the Surjoo, and aflbrds a route from Bagesur 

 to Somesur, much frequented by the Bhotiyas on their way to Chilkiya. 

 The lower part of this vale is also finely cultivated. The Giri-chheena 

 pass and that of the " Ladder Hill," between Almorah and Bagesur 

 are in the same range. 



The rocks between Hawulbagh and Somesur, are chiefly clayslate, in 

 highly inclined strata, transverse to the course of the river, and dipping 

 south : through these the river has excavated deep gorges. On the 

 right bank, there are two or three partial outbursts of granite ; about 

 Somesur, the rock is chiefly quartzose, in vertical strata ; with red and 

 dove-colored clayslate ; higher up the glen there is a quarry of blackish 



