DHONGLAILA PASS. 



259 



At 11,000 feet, Acer sterculiacea, Rosa microphylla, Ribes, which 

 ceases below 10,000 feet, it is confined to the A. densa woods. 



At 10,500 feet, Saxifraga, two species on moist banks, A. densa 

 woods, small Umbellifera. 



The sward commences at about 10,000 feet, and is common at 

 9,500 feet. It is clothed principally with the small bamboo noticed 

 in similar places above Sanah. Berberis spathulata commences. It is 

 with this sward that a new fir, with a larch-like look, which I call 

 temporarily Abies spinulosa, commences, and continues down to the 

 nullah, becoming more abundant as A. densa becomes less abun- 

 dant, and finally usurping its place entirely. Rhododendron micro- 

 phyllum continues to 9,600 feet, at which point Baptisoidea com- 

 mences. 



The vegetation hence to Bhoomlungtung consists entirely of Abies 

 spinulosa, intermixed with a species very like Abies pendula, this 

 appears at about 9,500 feet. The sward consists of small grasses, 

 Juncus niveus, Gnaphalium, Hypericum of Moflong, suffrutex incertus, 

 Juncus effusus at 9,000 feet, with Prinsepia utilis. 



The marked indicators of great elevation are A. densa, Polygonum, 

 Rheum ! Eriogona ! Rhododendron microphyllum, ellipticura, and 

 ellipticum foliis basi cordatis, Epilobium, Triticoides, Holcoides, 

 Umbellifera of Royle, Saxifragse, Ribes, Juniperus. 



The most marked peculiarity is the comparative absence of A. densa 

 on the east side of the mountain, and its excessive abundance on the 

 west. This valley may be justly called the valley of pines, for in no 

 direction is any forest to be seen but those composed of pines. The 

 change indeed is extraordinary, in other respects as indicated by the 

 presence of a new Rosa and Prinsepia utilis. Another peculiarity is 

 the appearance for the first time of A. spinulosa. The range of which 

 is between 8 to 10,000 feet; this is a beautiful tree, and disposed 

 in beautiful groups. The valley altogether is a beautiful one, and 

 actually repays one for the trouble endured in getting access to it. 



The temperature in crossing the ridge was below that on Dhong- 

 laila, and below the freezing point at times. No inconvenience was 

 felt by us from the elevation, but many of our servants suffered proba- 

 bly as much from fright as cold. 



February 2 7th.— Halted. 



February 28th. — This valley is certainly the prettiest place we have 

 yet seen, the left bank is particularly level, but neither are of much 

 breadth, the hills adjacent present rounded grassy patches, inter- 



