248 Notes of an Excursion to the Pindree Glacier. [March, 



(Arundinaria falcata,) which, from 20 to 30 feet high, overhangs the 

 path in the most graceful but to-day unwelcome clumps ; it reaches up 

 within a few miles of the glacier, and is also common on the western 

 face of the Dhakree Beuaik ; it is very generally in seed, now ripe and 

 ripening. The mountaineers assert that this only takes place every 

 twelve years (a suspicious period), and that then the plant dies. They 

 are certainly so far borne out in this that all the fruit-bearing specimens 

 do seem fading away, and that for several years past I have in vain 

 tried to procure the seed. The Nigala is of infinite use to them for 

 mats, baskets, &c. some of which are very neatly and strongly made- 

 Our route lay first on the left, then for a short distance on the right, 

 and finally returned to the left bank of the Pindur, keeping nearly its 

 level, with the exception of a few short but steep ascents and descents ; 

 the two bridges good. The scenery is of the sublimest description — 

 the valley somewhat of the character of the upper Roopin, except that 

 it is much more narrow, the mountains rising like walls to a vast height 

 on each side, broken into great buttresses, and universally invested 

 with the densest forest. Three or four beautiful cascades poured down 

 their boiling water from the woody heights, their volume doubly aug- 

 mented by the late and present rain, but one can scarce appreciate the 

 beauty of these things when wet and hungry, and all around with 

 faces expressive of despair. The last of these falls, nearly in front of 

 Diwalee, pours down amongst the ledges of slate rock from a maidan 

 or table-land, which must reach up close to Nunda Devee, and is a 

 favorite beat of the Shikarees. Thar, (wild goat,) moonal, argus, phea 

 sant, &c. being in great numbers. Diwalee, perhaps named from the 

 wall-like cliffs of the Pindur just above, stands in the angle where that 

 river receives on its left bank the Kushinee or Kuphinee river, a 

 stream as large and turbulent as itself, rising in the south-east recesses 

 of Nunda Kot mountain. Their waters are of a dirty milk colour, and 

 the bed of the combined stream is obstructed by some great boulders, 

 against which the waters dash at the pas de charge. We found a 

 good spot for our tents in the angle between the river ; above this are 

 several successive terraces, all well adapted for the same purpose, shaded 

 by yew and sycamore trees, but the forest soon terminates upwards in 

 the great bluff snowy spur which separates the rivers. The left or south 

 bank of the Kuphinee is formed by the M Kotela" mountain, the 



