388 Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. [Oct. 



tion. On our excursion to the top of the hills, we passed one of 

 those beautiful built wells, about 60 ft. deep, and with a fine flight of 

 steps to the bottom. Now neglected and overgrown with flowering 

 weeds and creepers, it afforded me many of the plants I had only 

 previously obtained in a withered state ; it was curious to observe there 

 some of the species of the hill tops, whose seeds doubtless are scattered 

 abundantly over the surrounding plains, and only here find a congenial 

 climate, where the coolness and moisture of their natural level are 

 imitated. A fine fig tree growing out of the stone work spread its 

 leafy green branches over the well mouth, which was about 12 ft- 

 square ; its roots assumed a singular form, enveloping two sides of the 

 well walls, with a beautiful network, which at high-water mark, (rainy 

 season) abruptly divides into thousands of little brushes, dipping into 

 the water which they fringe, thence descending to the earth below. 

 It was a pretty cool place to descend to, from a temperature of 80° 

 above, to 74° at the bottom, where the water was 60° ; and most refresh- 

 ing to look, either up the shaft to the green fig shadowing the deep 

 profound, or along the sloping steps through a vista of flowering herbs 

 and climbing plants, to the blue heaven of a burning sky. 



The ascent to Rotas is over the dry hills of limestone, covered with 

 a scrubby brush-wood, to a crest where are the first rude and now 

 ruined defences of the pass. The limestone is succeeded by the sand- 

 stone cliff cut into steps, which leads from ledge to ledge of the strata, 

 and gap to gap, well guarded with walls and archways of solid masonry. 

 Through this you pass on the flat summit of the Kymaon hills, covered 

 with grass and low loose forest, amongst which paths run in all direc- 

 tions. The ascent is about 1200 ft. a long pull in the blazing sun, 

 even of February. The turf is chiefly of spear-grass and Nardus, 

 which yields the favorite oil, much used in domestic medicine all over 

 India. The trees are of the kinds mentioned before, especially the 

 Olibanum, Wrightea., Diospyros and Terminalia ; the Sal (Vatica robus- 

 ta) is rare, from being universally cut down. The curious Hymenodyc- 

 tiurn thyrsifiorum grows as a scattered tree. A pretty octagonal summer- 

 house with a roof supported by pillars, occupies one of the highest 

 points of the plateau; it is called 1485 ft. above the Soane, and com- 

 mands a superb view of the features mentioned before. 



From this to the palace is a walk of 3 miles, through the woods* 



