ii 



LETTERS OP WILLIAM GRIFFITH 



will give it to some other eminent Geologist. Bucklandia occurs on 

 all these mountains, and no doubt about Nepal, although not yet 

 found there : I work hard inter alia, to shew that one man may 

 form unaided, a large collection in a few years. Of this you have 

 give a conspicuous proof yourself, but one or two more examples 

 are wanting, 



Thibaudiacea go on increasing, I really think that it will prove 

 an extensive family, for I can already muster 20 species : all I know 

 as yet are epiphytical. Did I tell you of my having got a Hydro- 

 peltis or Hydropeltideous plant, on the Khasya mountains, a new rice 

 and an arborescent Loranthus, terestrial of course. I wonder whether 

 it will prove a Nuytsia. I am quite in the dark as to news from home, 

 but I hear my attempts have given satisfaction* Pray remember^ 

 (and dont be angry with me for putting you in mind of it,) your pro- 

 mise of a collection of your plants : this will be invaluable as a nu- 

 cleus to base the arrangement of my own upon, as I really believe I 

 shall have nearly 7,000 species to distribute on my arrival in Calcut- 

 ta; and recollect, that no information or herbarim is procurable at the 

 Hon'ble Company's Dot. Gardens, or I would not put you to any 

 trouble. Adieu for the present, with all good wishes. 



Panukka, Bootan April 9^ 1838. 



Here we are at the Capital of Bootan, which consists of a huge ill 

 built straggling odd looking Palace, and about twenty mean houses, 

 half of which are ruins. It occupies part of a small valley, only 

 elevated 3,650 feet above the sea, and is surrounded by low exces- 

 sively barren hills : not a wood to be seen within 2,000 feet of us, 

 and not a plant to be had without ascending that height. So I 

 cannot hope for much here. However, I shall soon send out my 

 collectors on short trips. Since my last, we have again crossed 

 a ridge of 12,500 feet high, and several of between 10, and 11,000 

 feet, and yet, owing to the nature of the season and the snow, you 

 will be surprised to hear that my collections only amount to 1,000 

 species, of which 200 are mosses, and Jungermanniae. Had it been 

 spring I could certainly have doubled the number of plants. The 

 prettiest spots we saw, were three elevated vallies, eight thousand 



