240 



BOOTAN. 



February 1 1 th. — Went out at 1 p. m. ; descending to, and crossed 

 the Koollong, then ascending along its banks for about a mile. 



The bridge over this is about thirty yards wide, abutting from 

 two houses of ordinary structure, built on solid rocks : the river is 

 underneath the bridge apparently of great depth ; above it is a succes- 

 sion of rapids, it is even at this, the dryest season, a considerable river. 

 The path leads in a winding direction either over rice cultivation or 

 on precipitous banks. I noticed Berberis asiatica, pinnata, a Pomacea 

 spinosa, foliis spathulatis, Stauntonia latifolia, Hedera, Gaultheria two 

 or three, Thebandiacese, Artemisia major, Erythrina, Primula Stuartii 

 in abundance, Juncus, Alnus, Myrsina, Prunella in grassy spots, Ru- 

 mex of Khegumpa, Daphne papyracse, Peperomia quadrifolium, Spiraea 

 bella, Viola, Ophiopogon linearifol., Hypericum, Smilax, Elasagnus, 

 Conaria, Lonicera viliosa, Epilobium sericeum, a common plant in all 

 watery places, Cardamina Swertia, Viburnum microphyllum. Rhodo- 

 dendrum arborea and minor, Leucas ciliata, Thistles, Pteris aquilina, 

 Neckerse, Osbeckia capitata of Churra, Oaks, Catharinea, Xyris, Gor- 

 donia, Fragaria, Potentilla two, Festucoidea, Cupressus pendula. 



The greatest acquisitions were a beautiful pink farinaceous as- 

 capous Primula, and a new genus of Hamamelideae. This plant I 

 have long known, and called Betula corylifolia, as I had only seen it in 

 fruit, and not examined it ; it is found on the Khassya hills at elevations 

 of between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. It will be worth dedicating it to 

 some distinguished geologist, thereby associating his name with that of 

 Bucklandia and Sedgwickii. 



No fly-fishing is to be had in this stream, nor indeed in any at such 

 elevations. The Adoee is found, but always keeps at the bottom, the 

 structure of its mouth pointing out its grovelling habits. The Boo- 

 khar does not, I think, ascend more than 2,500 feet. Water-ouzels, 

 white-fronted Sylvia occur. Observed for the first time the religious 

 vertical revolving cylinders, these revolve by the action of water, which 

 runs on the cogs of the wheel by means of hollowed out trunks of 

 trees. Flour mills are common here, the grindstone revolves on 

 another by means of vertical spokes, which are set in motion by a 

 horizontal wheel, and moved by a stream let on it in the same way. 



Funaria heygrometrina abounds in the larch wood here. 



This is a very cold place, although 550 feet below Phoollong : it is 

 much colder than that place : thermometer at 7 a. m. 34°. 



Snow still remains on the height around ; heavy snow on the lofty 

 ridge to the north : strong south-east winds prevail here. 



