1848.] Narrative of a Journey to Cho Lagan, $-c. 105 



queer places. The ascent is tolerably steep, the path mostly in steps, 

 but in good order. The proper name of this ridge appears to be Gala, 

 a base-spur from the snowy mountain, which the map (incorrectly I 

 believe) calls Gula-Ghat ; the eastern extremity of it where crossed by 

 the road, is subdivided by two shallow ravines into three minor ridges, 

 the first from Chaudans, called Yergnachim ; the second Birdong, 

 thence is a good view into the valley of the Kali up to Budhi ; and the 

 Bird Tyungwe-Binaik, which is the boundary between Chaudans and 

 hyans : these differ little in height, and may average 3000 feet perhaps 

 above the village of Gala, i. e. 10,500 feet absolute elevation above sea 

 level. The name Nirpania*-Dhura has been applied to this hill by the 

 Khasias, because, in dry weather, no water is to be found on it, and the 

 ascent is rather thirsty work. The ascent of Nirpania from the south 

 merely leads to an equal descent on the north side, some 3000 feet 

 down to Golam-La, this side of the Najangar ; and the path here is, if 

 any thing, steeper, in narrow steps all the way, looking rather precipit- 

 ously into the bed of the Kali, which is many thousand feet below. The 

 summit of the pass must be near a mile in prependicular height above 

 the river. Halfway down to Golam-La is a small resting-place for goats, 

 &c, called Dandanhyar, a miserable little ledge on the hillside, in a 

 jungle of wild hemp, dock, and nettles. The hill is too steep and 

 rocky to be very well wooded, though it is not deficient in vegetation. 

 I observed some indifferent specimens of Silver Fir, {Picea Pindrow 1 

 or Webbiana ?),f by the Bhoteas called Woman, with the exact pro- 

 nunciation of that English word. 



Cypress (Cupressus torulosa), by the Khasias called Saro, by the 

 Bhoteas Tangshin, a name which in other districts I understand they 

 apply indiscriminately to any tree of the Fir or Pine species. 



Yew, (Taxus baccata,) Khas : Thunir, Bhot : Nhdrey. 



Birch, (Betula bhojpatra,) Bhot : Shak-shin. 



Rhododendron, (R. campanulatum.) Khas : Buronj or Burdns, Bhot : 

 Takshin. 



Bamboo-cane, (Arundinaria falcata ? Khas : Ningdla, Bhot : Kwey. 



* " Nlr," without ; " pani," water. 



t For the few Botanical names mentioned in my Journal, I am indebted to Major 

 Madden, of the Artillery, at Almora; but mistakes in the application of them (if any) 

 are entirely my own. 



P 



