A BOTANICAL TOUR IN CHAMBA AND KANGRA. 
By G. A. Gammie, 
I left Saliaranpur on the evening of the 13th August 1896 and 
arrived at Pathankote the following afternoon. 
Pathankote stands on the verge of the undulating Siwalik tract 
which extends outwards from the precipitous southern slopes of the 
Dhaula Dhar, or hrst range of the Himalayas. The mountain valleys 
of the Ravi which are contained in the State of Chamba lie between 
this and the loftier second range, beyond which is Lahaul. As the area 
comprised between the first and second ranges is of great extent, 
I at once decided to confine my tours strictly within its limits. I 
first travelled through the western portion of the State as far as the 
Sach Pass and afterwards undertook the survey of the eastern side 
as far as Barmaor, from whence I proceeded to Kan^ra through 
Chanota and Kuarsi and over the Mharam Pass. Pathankote 
and ite vicinity arc weiP woocT&tl, out many of the trees have cer- 
tainly been planted, such as Eugenia Jamholana^ Acacia Catechu, 
and Ficus religiosa^ whife Adhatoda Vasica^ Cassia Tora^ Cannabis 
indica, Ricinus communis^ etc., are the principal components of the 
scrubby undergrowth. Although a distance of twenty-eight miles 
intervenes, between Pathankote and Dunera, the trifling increase of 
altitude produces but little change worthy of especial remark in ihk, 
vegetation. The commonest trees observed were Pinus iongifolia^ 
Bombax malabaricum^ Mallotus philippinensis^ Teri^nalia tomen^ 
tosa^ several species of Acacia ; and there were good specimens of 
the Banyan and Pipal along the road at intervals. Grasses grew 
luxu.Iantly on many slopes which would have oeen bare and sterile but 
for their presence, and there were dense tracts of Olea glandulifera, 
Adhatoda Vasica, etc. The herbaceous flora was still that charac- 
teristic of the adjacent plains. 
Leaving Dunera the road ascends steadily tor ewenty-two miles 
to Dalhousie ; and towards the upper end oaks, rhododendrons, maples, 
horse-chestnuts and other trees form the humid forests, while the 
shrubby and herbaceous vegetation of a temperate climate replace 
at last the tropical forms left behind only a few miles lower down. 
Desmodium tilisefolium, Indigofera Gerardiana, Lespedeza sericea 
give the locality a distinctive coloration from the profusion of their 
flowers, as do also those of humbler plants, such as Geranium 
Anemone^ Potentilla. Dipsacus^ Aster ^ Cynoglossum^ Bcennhtghau’- 
seniay and many others. 
