1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 617 



Doodootolee attains above 10,000 feet elevation; another road leads via 

 Palee to Sireenugger ; there is also a route, though a bad one, to Kakur 

 Ghat, near Munurs, on the Kosilla. 



13th May. — An easy walk of two hours brought us to the summit 

 of Doonagiri, elevated above Calcutta 7454 feet. The woods on the 

 west side are chiefly of Quercus incana ; on the summit, Quercus 

 lanata, Iphisia govaniana, and Caragana spinosissima, (the last now in 

 flower,) are found ; the eastern side is wholly covered by Pinus longi- 

 folia, a tree which seldom allows a rival near its throne- 



Doonagiri is said to be the " Dronachul" of the Poorans. " The 

 mountain of Drona," the Military Preceptor of the Pandoos, who have 

 left many traditions about here. The Pundooa Khol to the N. N. E. 

 of this, derives its name from them, where the Gugas rises in the sacred 

 forest called Lodh Moona, where Gugas Rekhi performed penance, 

 erected lings, and by magic power, caused the springs of the stream, 

 which since bears his name, to gush from the quartz formation. The 

 people consider him identical with Gurg, the saint of the Gagur. 

 Doonagiri was originally part and parcel of Ceylon, and was brought 

 here, half way on the back of Hunooman, who getting weary or sleepy, 

 the rest of the trajet was performed on a flash of lightning, — or 

 Indra's rocket, as the people poetically call it. They affirm that 

 the Philosopher's stone exists here, and several peasants cutting grass, 

 have had their Koorpees turned into gold by accidentally striking it j 

 a fiction probably connected with the Jwalamat grass (Anthistiria 

 anathera,) which grows here, and has luminous roots. 



The summit of the ridge is rounded, and affords easy and pleasant 

 walks, especially to the north. The loftiest point is occupied by a 

 celebrated shrine of Devee, which however consists merely of a small 

 and simple roofless enclosure, containing two small slabs of stone, 

 believed to have placed themselves here spontaneously, — with a small 

 sculpture representing Muhadev and Devee ; evidently from Dwara. 

 From the same quarry are two broken pieces of carved stone, contain- 

 ing a portion of an inscription bearing date 1105 Saka : but so far are 

 the people from believing these were brought up from Dwara, that they 

 are persuaded the fragments were rained from heaven (akash se 

 burkha.) The officiating priest, however, set small store on the hea- 

 venly gift, for he sold it for four annas to my fellow-traveller, who was 



