OBSERVATIONS ON HIMALAYAN CONIFERS. 



235 



to the tree on the lower mountains. Dr. Griffith, also, observed 

 some variation ; for at 9,500 feet he mentions (p. 259), mixed 

 with Abies Smithiana, a " species very like Abies pendula;" 

 the difference consisting in the erect leaves {Itinerary Notes. 

 p. 149). And in Nepal, Dr. Wallich observed a variety which 

 he thought to come nearer P. strobus than the usual one (Boyle's 

 Illustrations') . 



I have already remarked, that in Busehur, wherever I*, longi- 

 folia is known as " Sulla" P. excelsa takes the name of 

 " Cheel," which in Joobul, &c. is variously modified to Cheeltoo, 

 C/ieetoo, C/ieeoo. In Gurhwal it is called Cheela. Baron 

 Hiigel mentions that in Kashmeer the Kair fir is preferred for 

 burning lime ; this is probably the local form of Kael, P. ex- 

 celsa, which in Busehur is equally esteemed in the preparation 

 of charcoal for the smelting of iron ore. At Almorah, the bark 

 of P. longifolia is employed for this purpose. 



Dr. Hoffmeister states, that " Kel" is used on the Sutluj 

 above Rampoor for P. longifolia, and quotes Professor Wilson 

 as authority for the signification " a sort of pine ;" a definition 

 not to be found in the Sanscrit Dictionary of 1832. The ver- 

 nacular term was perhaps " Kael" P. excelsa. 



III. Pinus Gerardiana. — " Rhee" and " Shungtee" are 

 the names by which tins pine is known in Busehur and Lower 

 Koonawur : further down the Sutluj, where, however, the tree 

 is not found, it appears to be called " Newr" perhaps a corrup- 

 tion of Neoza, but properly Juniperus excelsa. The Tibetan 

 race of Hungrung and Shipkee know it as the " Kuminche" 

 and " Koneeunchee," cognate with " Konecha," " Kolecha" of 

 the Joohar (Juwahir) Bhotiyas, who only know the tree by 

 report, and occasionally receive the seeds from the west. No 

 allusion is made to P. Gerardiana in Dr. Griffith's journey to 

 Bhotan, nor has Dr. Hooker found it in Sikhim or eastern 

 Nepal ; the most southern habitat appears to be the forest be- 

 tween Mularee and Bumpa, on the route to the Neetee Pass, in 

 which Dr. Jameson observed several specimens, truly wild, in 

 1846. The climate and flora of that locality are similar to 

 Koonawur. Dr. Falconer informs me, that it is abundant be- 

 tween Astore and Iskardo, in Little Tibet. Mr. Winterbottom 

 found it as far north as Gilgit, in 35^°, a fact which forms a 

 strong link in the chain of evidence to identify the Neoza with 

 the Chulghozeh or Julghozeh of Kabul. Dr. Griffith (Journals 

 of Travels, 457, 461) mentions the latter at Tezeen, in Afghan- 

 istan, and says it exists, but rare, in the Siyah-posh Kafir 

 mountains above Chugur Serai, north of Julalabad, where its 

 occurrence on the outer ranges indicates their exemption from 

 the periodical rains. Masson (i. 222) informs us that the moun- 



