GIG The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon, [June, 



and the construction of 360 temples and 72 wells ; of the latter one 

 only remains, covered in by a dome exceedingly well built of cut stone. 

 The temples are of the same material, and are scattered in groups and 

 lines over the fields. They are of the usual pyramidal form, surmount- 

 ed by the Turkscap ornament, with porticoes indifferently to the east 

 or west. The greatest height is about 30 feet. They are of a plain 

 style, but near the tank Shalde Pokhur, by a clump of date trees, and 

 an old Sillung, are the ruins of a small, but elaborately carved temple, 

 covered with sculpture representing gods, men, elephants, &c. ; it is 

 much dilapidated, and its graven images and stories lie scattered 

 around. None of these edifices are any longer held in any respect ; 

 on the contrary, having been desecrated by the Rohillas, they are 

 made available as hay and corn stores, being succeeded by a much 

 more modern, and well-built temple, where Budreenath and his priests 

 are well cared for. The Kuthoora would appear to have been a more 

 liberal and powerful dynasty than any that succeeded them ; the name 

 may possibly be allied to that of the Kuttaur tribe of Siyahposhes, 

 amongst whom also we find at Chitral the chief styled Shah Kutore ; 

 but they are generally considered Soorujvunsee Rajputs. No remnant 

 of an inscription remains at Dwara, but a portion of one has been carri- 

 ed up to the shrine of Devee on Doonagiri, bearing date Saka 1105, 

 A. D. 1029, which may be assumed as that of the temples. 



On the Ookhul Lekh, the rock is quartz, which at Dwara is suc- 

 ceeded by gneiss, the strata rising N. E. towards Doonagiri ; to the 

 S. E. blocks like granite boulders are seen on the continuation of the 

 Ookhul Lekh range. Doonagiri is composed of blue clay slate, with 

 some quartz, apparently rising towards Bhut Kot, in the same direction 

 as the gneiss ; towards the eastern base of the mountain, there is a 

 great deal of red Ochry soil, probably arising from the disintegration of 

 the slates and quartz. Doonagiri as seen from Dwara, is a fine saddle- 

 back mountain, its easy slopes covered with woods and clumps of Banj 

 oak, interspersed with spacious glades of meadow. The summit may 

 be about 2 miles distant from the bungalow, and is continued far to 

 the N. W. in a range of nearly equal elevation. In a pretty cultivated 

 dell along its S. W. side flows the Kotlar Nudee, of which the source is 

 at Dwara from Doonagiri ; the road to Lohba and Budreenath follows its 

 course towards the Ramgunga, beyond which the lofty range called 



