366 Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. [Oct. 



February 2nd. — Proceeded on to Tofe-choney (or Top-chaunsee.) 

 General features similar to those of yesterday, but the country more 

 wooded and ascent considerable ; alt. of station 900 feet. Tanks here 

 are covered with the usual water plants of India : Villarsia Crist at a, 

 Nymphcea, Chara and Potamogeton. The increased shade favors the 

 growth of several ferns, as Lygodium, Pteris, Adiantum, Cheilanthes 

 and Selaginella. The situation near the foot of Parus Nath, a heavily 

 timbered lofty mountain rising abruptly, and terminated in a rugged 

 ridge, is very pretty. A few rock Lichens are found here. Many tree g 

 appear, with Nauclea, Bignonia, Combretum and Bauhinia, Gmelina 

 arborea and parvifolia. Butea frondosa continues abundant. In this 

 district the greater proportion of Stick-Lac is collected from Butea ; 

 in Mirzapur, a species of Sponia yields it, and the Peepul very com- 

 monly in various parts of India. The elaboration of this dye, whether 

 by the same species of insect, or by many from plants so widely differ- 

 ent in habit and characters, is a very curious fact. 



February 3rd. — At 3 a. m. the temperature was 55°, and to the 

 feeling very cold. This being the most convenient station from whence 

 to ascend Parus Nath, we left early in the morning for the village of 

 Maddaobund, on the north base of the mountain, from whence a good 

 path leads to the summit. 



Following the Grand Trunk Road for a few miles to the west, after 

 passing the base of the mountain, a narrow path strikes off to the north 

 winding through low valleys and over finely wooded plains, covered with 

 noble trees of Bassia, like Oaks in a park, Fici, Gmelina, two species 

 of Diospyrosy Buchanania latifolia, Nauclea cordifolia, Semicarpus 

 anacardium y Bauhinias, with clumps of large Bamboo. The under- 

 shrubs are still of Viteoc, Carissa, Grislea tomentosa, Zyzyphi, and 

 stunted Butea ; the grapes wiry and harsh, Adropogons, Anthristia^ 

 Saccharum, &c. Some villages at the west base of the mountain occupy 

 a better soil and are surrounded with richer cultivation ; palms and 

 mangoes and the tamarind, the first and last rare features in this part 

 of Bengal, appeared to be common here, with fields of rice and 

 broad acres of Flax and Rape, through the latter of which the blue 

 Orobanche Indica was swarming. The short route to Maddaobund, 

 through narrow rocky valleys, was impracticable for the elephants, and 

 we had to make a very considerable detour, only reaching that village 



