THE PATLI DON. 69 



No longer can it be said with truth that the surface features have 

 much dependency on the lie of the rocks. Denudation alone, 

 as embodied in the vermicular tracks of the streams, has laid out hills 

 and valleys according to its own caprice ; and especially is this the 

 case when the schistose group of strata is definitely entered upon. 

 A homogeneity of composition, and an unknown amount of reflexing 

 and contortion, doubtless dating far back in the history of the schists, 

 has caused all inequalities due to simple disturbance to be effectively 

 masked by sub-aerial influences. Along with the change in the 

 vegetation, and in the surface of the ground, the denizens of the 

 jungles become scarcer and of a different stamp. The spotted deer 

 (Axis) utterly ceases with the duns and chaors, on whose flat sur- 

 faces they can alone live naturally. The elephant, as if baffled 

 by a charm, never passes beyond the ridge which marks the line 

 of the main boundary. In the same way many other examples of 

 large game equally seem to cease to thrive among the higher 

 hills, or if they do pass into them it is from some artificial reason 

 and not in accordance with their normal instincts. Tigers, for 

 instance, are known to travel up to great heights, following herds of 

 buffaloes seeking pasture in the more elevated region during the hot 

 months ; but in this light they may be regarded as semi-domesticated 

 animals. 



Indeed, on passing into the higher Himalaya, the change is an 

 all-round one. The reserved forests as a rule cease, or, if they extend 

 a short distance, they never pass beyond the zones of nummulitic 

 and mesozoic age. The country is much barer to the north. The 

 associations, climate, and inhabitants are very different. With the 

 absence of reserved forests a quiet domesticity steals over the 

 landscape ; the hillsides become covered with small villages, each 

 with its little plot of terraced fields and straggling uncared-for jungle 

 round about. To the traveller the change means a great deal ; he 

 must reorganise his camp equipment, exchanging camels or elephants 

 for coolies or mules ; because,not only is he ascending slowly but surely 

 into a more temperate climate, but deeper ravines and steeper Hill— 



( 127 ) 



