NULLAHS. 
13 
region, and flowers with which every European is fa- 
miliar, the dog-rose, heliotrope, hollyhock, marigold, 
nasturtium, poppy, larkspur ; lettuces, turnips, cab- 
bages, and potatoes, are also very plentiful — indeed, 
I think there is scarcely a European fruit, flower, or 
esculent vegetable, that is not to be found in some 
part or other of these mountains. We were told that 
oaks were occasionally seen in the higher regions of 
this immense chain, though we did not happen to see 
any. The common stinging-nettle was very abun- 
dant, though somewhat more potent in its powers of 
infliction than the same plant so well known in Eu- 
rope; and it was truly amusing to see with what 
alacrity one or two Bengalee servants who had ven- 
tured to accompany us, having unwittingly squatted 
down upon a tuft of these insidious evergreens, sprang 
upon their feet, gaping with inquisitive surprise at 
the cause of their sudden celerity. 
As we advanced, we crossed several nullahs in 
which were huge disjointed masses that had fallen 
from the superincumbent rocks, so rounded and po- 
lished by constant attrition — for the extreme agita- 
tion of the waters produced a perpetual whirlpool — 
that one might have imagined they had been sub- 
mitted to the process of human labour. During the 
rains, by which the torrents are immensely swelled, 
their agitation is inconceivably violent; in fact, the 
impetus of the stream is then so great, that stones 
of immense magnitude are washed from the mountains 
and precipitated into the plains below. 
By this time the difficulties of our route had con- 
siderably increased : to look down some of the gaping 
c 
