400 Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. [Oct. 



a dark brick-red heart, most profitable in January and useless in June, 

 (for yielding the extract.) 



February 27th. — Left for Hirrah, (elev. 536 feet) through a similar 

 country to that passed yesterday. Rocks all highly inclined, often 

 vertical, of ribbon-jasper quartz and hornstone ; monkeys, parroquets 

 and hornbills, pigeons, owls and flocks of peacocks. Found a legumi- 

 nous tree very like the Butea in every respect, but with small white 

 flowers (probably B. parviflora) so abundant as to appear as if snowed 

 upon. A Gardenia ? with large yellow fruit eaten by the natives. Phyl- 

 lanthus emblica, Kydia calycina and the dwarf Phoenix. 



February 28th. — Marched to Kotah (elev. 542 feet), the path leading 

 over hills with the bed of flinty rock projecting every where, to the 

 utter ruin of our vehicles and the elephant's feet, and then over undulat- 

 ing hills of limestone ; on the latter found a tree of Cochlospermum, its 

 curious thick branches spread out something awkwardly, and each is 

 tipped with a cluster of glorious golden yellow flowers, as large as the 

 palm of the hand, and very beautiful. I think Lindley is certainly 

 right in referring it to Cistece ; it is a tropical Gum-Cistus in features, 

 produce, color and texture of petals, and their caducous frail nature. 

 It is a superb plant. The bark abounds in a transparent gum, which 

 the white ants seem fond of, for they have killed many trees here. 



At Kota, a small village at the junction of the Soane (elev. 543 feet), 

 beside a river of that name, we encamped, and experienced another 

 furious dust storm from the N. W. 



Scorpions appear very common here, of a small kind, 1^ inch long. 

 Several were captured and one stung one of our party on the finger ; the 

 smart was burning for an hour or two, and then ceased. 



February 29th. — Being now nearly opposite the cliffs at Bidgegurh, 

 where coal is reported to exist we again crossed the Soane, and for 

 the last time. The ford is some three miles up the river, to which we 

 marched through deep sand. On the banks saw a species of Celtis or 

 Sponia covered with lac. This tree is said to produce it here in great- 

 est abundance, as the Butea does at Burdwan and the Peepul in many 

 parts of the country. I do not know which yields the best, nor whether 

 the insects are different. The merchants do not distinguish the kinds. 

 The bed of the river is about f mile broad, and the rapid stream 50 or 

 60 yards, and breast-deep ; the sand firm and silicious, with no mica ; 



