410 Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. [Oct. 



in geographical position retaining the same mean level. The differences 

 are analogous to them between the Kymaon and upper Soane valley, and 

 are due to the very different surface soil and means of supporting vege- 

 tation. 



Though the mean temperature deduced from the few days I spent on 

 this part of the Kymaon is so much above that of the upper Soane 

 valley, which it bounds, I do not suppose that the whole range partakes 

 of this increase. When the alluvium does not cover the rock, as at 

 Rotas and many other places, especially along the southern and eastern 

 ridges of the ghauts, the nights are considerably cooler than on the 

 banks of the Soane ; and at Rotas itself, which rises almost perpendicu- 

 larly from the river, and is exposed to no such radiation of heat from a 

 heated soil as Shahgunge is, I found, the temperature considerably 

 below that of Akbarpore on the Soane, which however is much shelter- 

 ed by an amphitheatre of rocks. 



March 7th. — Left Shahgunge for Mirzapore, following the road to 

 Goorawal, over a dead alluvial flat without a feature to remark. 

 Turning north from that village, the country undulates, exposing the 

 rocky nucleus and presenting the usual concomitant vegetation. Occa- 

 sionally park-like views occurred, which when diversified by the rocky 

 valleys, resemble much the noble scenery of the forest of Dean on the 

 borders of Wales. The Mahoowa especially representing the Oak, with 

 its spreading and often gnarled branches many of the exposed slabs of 

 sandstone are beautifully waved on the surface with the ripple-mark 

 impression ; of which impression a specimen was picked up at Rotas. 



March 8th. — Having encamped at Amoee last night, I proceeded on 

 to Mirzapore, descending a steep ghaut of the Bind hills by an excellent 

 road, to the level plains of the Ganges. 



During the few days spent at Mirzapore with my kind friend, C. Ha- 

 milton, Esq. I was surprised to find the temperature of the day cooler 

 by nearly 4° than that of the hills above, or of the upper part of the 

 Soane valley, the nights on the other hand were decidedly warmer. 

 The dew point again was even lower in proportion, 7°. 6 and the climate 

 consequently drier. The following is an abstract of the observations 

 taken at Mr. Hamilton's house on the banks of the Ganges. 



