Productions of Boutan and Thibet. 8 3 
firs ; ftrawberries every where, and very good, and a few bil- 
berry plants. 
9 , 
Much fparry flint, and a fort of granite with which the 
road is paved. There is a great deal of talc in the ftones and 
foil, but in too fmall pieces to beufeful. Frequent beds of clay 
and pure fand. Find two mineral wells, (lightly impregnated 
with iron, with much appearance of that metal in this part of 
the country; and they are not unacquainted with the method 
of extracting it from the ftones, but (till delpife its ufe in 
building. Towards Chooka there are many well cultivated 
fields of wheat and barley. 
Road to Punukha, May 26. From Chooka the country opens, 
and prefents to view many well cultivated fields and diftant vil- 
lages ; a rapid change in climate, the vegetable productions, and 
general appearance of the country. Towards Punukha, pines 
and firs are the only trees to be met with ; but they do not yet 
feem in their proper climate, being dwarfilh and ill-fhaped ; 
peaches, ralberries, and ftrawberries, thriving every where; 
fcarce a plant to be feen that is not of European growth. In 
addition to the many I have already mentioned, faw two (pe* 
cies of the Crataegus, one not yet defcribed. Saw two afh- 
trees in a very thriving ftate, the ftar-thiftle, and many other 
weeds, in general natives of the Alps and Switzerland. 
Much of the rock to-day is, I find on examination, 
pure limeftone ; a valuable acquifition if they did not either 
defpife its ufe, or were unacquainted with its properties. 
It was moft advantageoufly fituated for being worked, and 
the pureft perhaps to be met with. There is likewife abun- 
dance of fire-wood in this part of the country. In building 
they would derive great benefit from the ufe of it. Their 
houfes are lofty, the timbers fubftantial, and nothing wanting 
M2 to 
