TASSGONG OR BENKUR. 



225 



February lstf.-— Our march commenced by descending gradually 

 at first, then very rapidly to the Dimree nuddee : crossing this at 

 the junction of two streams, we ascended a little and then kept 

 along the side of the ridge forming the right bank of the nuddee, until 

 we came over the Monass : thence proceeding about one and a half mile, 

 we reached Tassgong or Benka which is situated on this river, and 

 about 1,000 feet above it. This we crossed by a suspension bridge. 



But little interesting botany occurred to-day : Chenopodium sp. 

 occurs in fields at Roongdong. The terrace cultivation here had just 

 yielded a crop of rice, and was now planted with wheat. Agriculture 

 would appear to be at a low ebb, and if the country is populous, the 

 people must be half- starved. 



Water was abundant throughout the route : the Monass is a large 

 stream, but not generally very deep, although from its rapidity it 

 must discharge even at this season a great body of water. Composita 

 penduliflora descends to the Dimree, the altitude of which is about 

 3,000 feet, so in fact did most of the plants found about Roongdong. 

 Pyrus continues half-way, Rhododendron to the bottom. Hovenia at 

 an altitude of 5,000 feet, Randia — as also Tetranthera oleosa, and a 

 new Flemingia. 



At 4,900 feet, Jubrung occurs. — Clematis, Cana, Luculise sp., Cony- 

 zoidea nivea, Kydia calycina, Mimosa arborea, began at 4,800 feet : 

 Gaultheria, arborea, Gordonia, descend to the bottom : Crawfurdia 

 speciosa, Oxyspora, Aspidium, Macrostomium, and Polypodioides, 

 Saurauja hispida, Hypericum, Spirasa bella, Gillenioinis, Quercus, 

 Rubus, and Viburnum caerulescens. A tree yielding lac, which had 

 lately been cut, and Meliacese, Rhus triphyllum. Hence some snow 

 was visible on a lofty ridge above our heads, at least 9,500 feet, the 

 snow descending a considerable way down ravines. Of birds, Bulbuls 

 and Bucco, were here observed. 



At feet, Leguminosa arborea, Loranthus Scurrula, Kydia 



Wendlandia, Celtis, Osbeckia nepalensis, a Vitex, Grislea, Pteris 

 aquilina, Indigofera ! Acanthacea caerulea. 



At feet, Triumfetta mollis, Composita arborea, Pterospermum, 



fructibus 10-valvibus, valvis lobatibus, Sem. alatis. Santalacea aus- 

 tralasica, here a large shrub. 



At the nullah, Fici sp., Saccharum Megala, Verbenacia? foliis 

 apice craso lobatis. On the opposite side, Pinus longifolia, to within 200 

 feet of the nullah, Phlibochiton extensus ! Solanum farinaceum ! Achy- 

 ranthes densa ! a Plumbaginacea ,which is a Psederioid Rubiacea, and 



2? 



