OF KAMAON... ' . 139 



to be met with: these spots, however, in no Instance exceed, and in few cases 

 equal half a mile in breadth : the site of the town of Srinagar, on the banks of 

 the Alalcananda, is of this description, and is only 1,500 feet above the level of 

 the sea. . 



The Tarai, or Bhawer, included in this province, is very unequal in 

 extent ; under the Gerhwal pergunnas it averages only from two to three 

 miles from the foot of the hills, while in Kamaon proper it is no where less 

 than from 12 to 15 miles in breadth. From Kotedivara, Long. 78" 20', to near 

 BJiamouri yluong. 79° 20', the Bhwwer is divided from Rohilkund by a low range 

 of hills, which contains numerous passes, some of them practicable for wheel 

 carriages: the remaining ^//aw^r, to the east and west of these points, is wholly 

 open to the plains. The Bhawer is at present only partially cultivated, and 

 consists almost wholly of thick forest, of Sal, Sisu, and Bamboos. 



The quantity of land calculated for cultivation, as afforded by nature, is, 

 within the hills, extremely small, and in order therefore to remedy this defi- 

 ciency, the sides of the mountains admitting of such an operation, have 

 been cut down into terraces, rising above each other in regular succession, 

 and having their fronts supported by slight abutments of stones. These 

 terraces necessarily vary in breadth and length, according to the form and 

 slope of the mountain on which they are situated, but as a great portion of 

 every mountain, more particularly near the summit and ridges, is not sufficiently 

 productive to warrant the expense and labor of the operation, those spots are 

 clothed with grass, and generally covered with forest, consisting chiefly of pines, 

 oaks, and rhododendrons, whilst some parts, from their rocky and precipitous 

 nature, are wholly barren, or only partially sprinkled with tufts of rank grass. 



A few lakes are to be found in various parts, the most remarkable of 

 which are Nagni Tal, BJiim Tal, and Noxv Kuntia Taly situated in the 



