INTRODUCTION. 



Letters of the late William Griffith, F. L. S. to his Friend Dr. 

 Wight, Madras Medical Service. 



Ling Ling Bootan, alt 5,000 ft. Feb, 20th 1838. 



We have now been ia these hills upwards of a month, yet we have, 

 owing to the infamous management of the Booteas, not travelled 

 more than thirteen days ; the country is generally very barren, the hills 

 being covered with coarse Andropogoneous grasses, woods are of 

 rather rare occurrence ; when they do occur, they are rich in vegeta- 

 tion. My collection only amounts to 800 species, but it must 

 be recollected that it is now the depth of winter. In mosses it is very 

 rich, we have changed our elevations very much, generally we have 

 been at between 4, and 7,000 ft. The other day however we had the 

 pleasure of being in snow all day, and of crossing a chain 12,500 ft. 

 high. All the small European forms that are so marked at these ele- 

 vations, had unfortunately withered, but from the remnant that re- 

 mained, I was enabled to locate the altitude of Parnassia, Saxifraga, 

 Gentiana, Polygonum, Spirese, Umbelliferce, and small Gramineae. In 

 that day I gathered 8 species of Rhododendron. Beautiful pines 

 occurred, and one yew. I have been paying much attention to the 

 geographical distribution of the plants of the country, as all our alti- 

 tudes are beautifully determined by Capt. Pemberton, who travels 

 with two first rate Barometers. We shall ere long be enabled, or 

 obliged to ascend above 10,000 ft. so that my data will be still farther 

 increased. My best plant perhaps, is a new genus of Hamamelidese, 

 which I have likewise in fruit from the Khasya hills, and which de- 

 monstrates the analogy of the order with Cupuliferae very well. I 

 do not know what name to give it, but if Sedgewickia holds good, I 



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