212 



BOOTAN. 



the Jay figured inRoyle's work : continuing to descend very gradually, I 

 observed Epilobium,* Neckera, Fissidens, Brachymenium, Nerioideura 

 in fruit and half buried in the fallen leaves ; a pretty Gentiana, Ruta 

 albiflora, Potentilla. After passing along this for some way we com- 

 menced a sharp descent. At about 4,800 ft. Vitex simplex, occurred. 

 Indigofera re-appeared, with Saccharum rubro nitens of Churra, the 

 other grasses being Andropogons, 2-3, and Orthopogon, Hedychium, 

 Gordonia soon re-appeared : to the east, cultivation was visible, and to 

 the north, Pines were visible in every direction stretching away far 

 below us to a considerable torrent. About one-third of the way down 

 this steep ravine, at the bottom of which a torrent was heard roaring, 

 Wendlandia, Spiraea bella, Hedychium, Gaultheria arborea, Aspera 

 Rhododendron, Pteris aquilina, Artemisia, Saurauja hispida, Indigo- 

 fera, Eurya, Mimosa arborea, Maesa angustifolia of yesterday, Os- 

 beckia nepalensis, Viburnum, Tetranthera, Ficus, Gleichenia minor, 

 Crawfurdia speciosa, Polygonum rheoides, were found. Hitherto 

 the woods had been dry, or rather so, but on turning to the east, 

 we came into damp woods presenting many tropical features, along 

 which we continued descending gradually for some time : at the 

 commencement in this, Callicarpa arborea, a weeping Beech, Dipsa- 

 cus verbesina, and the Alnus, of Thumathaya occurred, Arbutoideus, 

 Hydrangea, Urtica heterophylla, Neuropeltoid aromatica. Then 

 below we came on Piper, Deeringia, Cerasus, Sanicula, Cyrtandracea, 

 Cheilosandra gracilis, and fleshy Urticese. Underwood, herbaceous 

 forms of Acanthacese, Ferns, as Davallia, Asplenium, all more or less 

 succulent. Darea, Glycine, Buchanania, Saurauja ferruginea, Thalic- 

 trum majus, Pothos, etc. Hypericum, Begonia, Panax terebinthaceus, 

 Magnoliacse, Garcinise, Valeriana cordifolia.* Passing on at the same 

 elevation, we suddenly rounded a ridge, and in one moment came on 

 dry, sunny, rocky, grassy ground, the trees being exclusively Rhodo- 

 dendron, oaks and a few Gordonias with Airoid, Andropogons, Pteris 

 aquilina : we then came on the brink of the ridge up to which Pinus 

 longifolia ascends; the elevation of this was 4,132 feet (60-204^.*) 

 From this all around Pinus is visible in profusion ; we then dipped to 

 the south, this face being occupied by thick forest, having Rhododen- 

 drons on the skirts. From the above spot Saleeka was visible, with 

 a fine grove of Pines, it is 1,500 feet, at least above this. 



* Such figures ; may be thus read. Temp, of the air 60° Fah., that of boiling 



water 20^4°. 



