Journal in the Sub-Himalaya. 545 



dars told us that it was impossible to ascend the Choor at this 

 season, on account of the snow ; we were therefore obliged to give up 

 our design, and content ourselves with a good view of this peak which 

 is the highest point of the second range, being more than 12,000 feet 

 above the sea : on the loftiest part, the snow lay in a large sheet, and 

 lower down it appeared thick among the trees for a considerable dis- 

 tance. The whole of Choor is covered with a forest of trees of the 

 largest size. The larch (Kellyon), the fir (Chur), the cedar (Ruho.) 

 We procured here a little honey of a strong but not unpleasant taste. 

 Towards the evening a cloud overspread the Choor, and we were told 

 that it was snowing. The thermometer, which a little before had 

 been 76°, fell suddenly to 58°, and remained so till sunset. 



23rd. Shmoga — 5 coss. Thermometer sunrise 43°. The road al- 

 ternately ascending and descending. The ground beneath sloped 

 abruptly, and in some parts nearly perpendicular to the depth of from 

 300 to 500 feet. It was rather trying to the nerves at first, as one false 

 step would, in all probability, have been fatal. Therm, at noon 65°. 

 Ascended to Shmoga, an indifferent village. The people on this side 

 of the rivulet frequently fought with those on the opposite side, and 

 there are very high houses in some of the villages (which they call 

 towers), which served as a kind of citadel to retire to, when attacked. 

 These feuds formerly common, have entirely ceased since the British 

 influence has prevailed in this country. The inhabitants of some 

 villages at the bottom of Choor, beyond Nyrah, were refractory last 

 year, regarding the payment of revenue, and the Rajah was obliged to 

 come and settle the affair in person : it did not get to blows. They 

 have wolves and bears here. The latter attack a man if he come 

 suddenly on them or molest them. One Zumindar mentioned that his 

 father suddenly met one on the road, which severely clawed his head, 

 and left him senseless on the ground. He was however brought home 

 and recovered. Close to the village there is a solitary Kellyon or 

 larch, the first we had an opportunity of approaching. It was a 

 grand tree, though small of its size. It is devoted to the god Shiva, 

 whom they call Sirgoon. The villagers offered to show us some game, 

 and we went out with our guns in the evening. Two chukores rose 

 out of a cornfield, and we each knocked down one to the great sur- 

 prise and admiration of these hill men. We saw three or four more 



4 B 



