8 -o Mr . Saunders’s Account of the 
( reflection of the hills, affeCt the air to a confiderable extent, 
: and render it highly injurious to ftrangers and European con- 
flitutions. 
The thermometer at the foot of the hill, mid-day 86% fell 
to 78° at two o’clock, the time we reached Buxaduar, and that 
hour of the day when it is generally higheft. 
The foil and appearance of the ground in afcending the hill 
are materially changed. See many loofe fparry ftones and rock 
containing iron. Two fprings, conducted from a diftant height 
by fpouts, are very pure and good water, without any mineral 
impregnation. The mountains in view covered with foreftsof 
trees, rendered ufelefs from their inacceflibility. Thofe pecu- 
liar to the country are known to the natives by the names 
Boumblhi, Toumbfhi and Sindeftii,befides faul timber, bamboo, 
and plantains. 
Buxaduar, May 12 to 21. Many of the plants peculiar to 
Bengal require nurfing at Buxaduar. There is one very good 
banian tree. In the jungles, met with the ginger, and a very 
good fort of yam ; faw fome pomegranate- trees in good prefer- 
vation ; fhallots in great perfection ; a fpecies of the Lychnis, 
Arum, and Afclepias, natives of more northern fituations, and 
of little ufe ; a bad fort of ralberry, and a fpecies of the 
Gloriofa. The plantains in ufe below do not thrive here* 
In the jungles they have a plantain-tree producing a very broad 
leaf, with which they cover their huts ; but the fruit is not 
• 
eaten. See many weeds and long grafs more common to 
Bengal than any other parts of Boutan. 
From the 15th to the 22d, the rains were almoft inceflant 
at Buxaduar. Our People- became unhealthy, and were at- 
tacked with fevers, which, if negleCted in the beginning, 
proved obftinate quartans. This was the cafe with feveral of 
the 
