Correspondence. 387 



a more fertile tract than the Kuiraaon, Pergunnans of Dharma and 

 Becanse-Bhote, which must be crossed to reach it. These very Bhote 

 Mehals which I have previously quoted as exemplifying the Northern 

 phenomena, are, because lying South of the Passes, or Water's beds, 

 from which rivers flow to the North, (though lying North of the Great 

 Peaks) uninhabitable except for five months of the year. The places 

 in Thibet above named, besides Gurtokh, Roodukh, &c, are inhabited 

 throughout the year. 



8. But my illustrations are not required. I am only one witness, 

 and that a very humble one. If you will open Montgomery Martin's 

 History of the British Colonies, vol. i, Asia, (my copy is the second 

 edition,) pages 95 to 110, you will find an accurate account of the coun- 

 try on both sides of the Himalya supported by authority, and the con- 

 trast between the North and South side is particularly described. 

 There, all the allusions are to Upper Kunawur and the country beyond 

 it, (Capt. Hutton's own Kunawur,) and not to Heoondes behind Kuma- 

 on and Gurhwal, — so that Capt. Webb, and others are additional and 

 independent authorities for the same kind of facts. The Kumaonees, too, 

 are the more valuable authorities, as the highest peaks* of the survey- 

 ed tract between the Kalee and Sutlej are situated in Kumaon, and our 

 Passes at once take us into Thibet, and do not conduct us like those 

 beyond Simla into an intermediate and peculiar tract like Kunawur. 

 I also particularly request your attention to Royle's Illustrations of Hi- 

 malyan Botany, first ed. (1833,) vol. i. pp. 32 to 40 ; vol. iii. pp. xviii xix. 

 xx. ; vol. xi. pp. xxi xxii. and xxiii. The Roman Numbers shew that the 

 remarks are a part of the Introduction. The Arabic Numbers denote 

 a part of the actual work ; but the Index of any edition will be a suffi- 

 cient guide. The mere reprint of Dr. Royle's admirable observations 

 would in fact be a sufficient reply to Capt. Hutton, (I would particular- 

 ly request his attention to the account of Zinchin by the Gerards,) that 

 is, always supposing that he and Capt. Jack are really attacking Webb, 

 Herbert, &c, and do not confine their facts and remarks to Mounts 

 Huttoo and Jacko in the Simla territory. 



I remain, My dear Sir, 

 Your's very faithfully, 



J. H. Batten. 

 Camp. Kaleedoongee, Kumaon, Terrai, Dec. 9th 1843. 



* Nundidevi is 25,750 feet, and the rest in proportion. The Western Peaks 

 rarely attain 21,500 feet, and the Passes do not exceed 16,000 feet, and are often 

 lower. 



