BRIDGE OVER THE KOOLLONG. 



231 



February 6th. — We descended immediately to the Monass, keep- 

 ing along its banks throughout the greater part of the march ; rising 

 however, over one or two spurs that dip into it. 



This river varies a good deal in width, its bed, however, is generally 

 confined, and the stream fierce ; occasionally, however it spreads out 

 and becomes here and there more placid. We continued along its 

 banks, crossing one or two small streams until 12 o'clock, when we 

 reached a large torrent, the Koollong, up which we proceeded three 

 or four hundred yards, but at some height above its bed. We crossed 

 this by a wooden bridge of similar construction with that over the 

 Deo Panee, and the idea of which is ingenious. It is nearly fifty yards 

 wide, and about twenty above the torrent. It is in a bad state, and 

 unprovided with railings throughout the central level part. The 

 houses into which the inclined supporting beams are fixed are strong, 

 and built on rock. The fastenings are altogether of cane, and the 

 whole presenting the appearance given in the annexed drawing. 



Hence we ascended a black, rocky, burnt up mountain until we 

 reached Khumna, the ascent amounted to nearly 2,000 feet, and 

 occupied more than an hour. 



But little of interest occurred, in fact I never saw a more barren 

 country. We passed a small village of two or three houses, and two 

 good patches of rice cultivation, one just below Nulka, one at 

 Ghoomkhume, the small village just alluded to. 



Pinus longifolia descends nearly to the bed of the Monass, which 

 below Nulka is about 2,200 feet above the level of the sea. Along 

 this I noticed Hirsea, Eugenia, Vitis, Jasminum, Psederia fcetida, Ficus, 

 Loranthus, Scurrula, Desmodium, Aerides, Vanda, Flacourtia, Kalan- 

 choe, Leguminosa, Vanillidora of Solani mookh, Ceanothus, Bergera, 

 Dischidia bengalensis, Leguminous trees, Euphorbia, Bassia, Chei- 

 lanthes of Brahmakoond common, Coccoloba cyanea. In rice khets 

 at Ghoomkurrah, I found Lemna, Cardamine, Rumex of Khejumpa, 

 Cirsium decurrens, Gnaphalia, Datura, Simool in flowers ; Spathoidea, 

 Oxalis coriculata, Cannabis, Verbesina. 



I observed water-ouzels, bucco, water-wagtails, bulbuls, ordinary 

 and yellow-rumped. 



