49.1 
1832.] Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. 
wooden temple is erected, where the footpath to Kotgurh branches 
off. The descent from this is in places very steep, and after rain ra¬ 
ther difficult, from the slippery nature of the stiff yellow clay over 
which the path lies. At Kotgurh, besides the Missionary stationed 
there, is a gentleman of the name of Berkeley who is engaged in tea¬ 
planting ; and a retired officer, named Begbie, also has a house in the 
neighbourhood which he occasionally occupies. Mr. Berkeley’s house 
is near the highest limit at which the tea-plant will thrive, and his 
chief'plantations are at a somewhat lower level; but the quality of 
the soil has also considerable influence, and varies considerably, pro¬ 
bably according to the nature of the rock immediately beneath it. 
Kotgurh, from its low elevation, is hot and sultry, and not exempt, I 
should think, from malarious fever. The vegetation round it is rank 
in all open spots, and rice is grown just below it. Bears and leo¬ 
pards are found in the forest above it, the last animal being far more 
numerous than might be suspected. Several have been taken in 
traps near Simla this season, (as many as three in one month by the 
same individual), but yet it is an animal which is never seen abroad 
in the day time. The bears are the black hill bear (Ursus Hima- 
l ay anus) a perfectly distinct animal from the black bear of the 
plains, and considerably smaller, to judge by the relative size of the 
skulls of the two species. The plain bear is in fact another genus 
(ProcJieilus labiatus) and the skulls may be readily discriminated, 
as the former has six incisor teeth in the upper jaw, whilst the latter 
has but four. 
15 th, Nirt-chohee Nirt is situated on the banks of the Sutlej, and 
the descent to it from Kotgurh is in many places extremely steep 
and difficult. The Sutlej is here under 100 yards broad, and rushes 
over a rocky bed, the whole valley being so contracted as to afford few 
open patches tit for cultivation on either side. At this low level the 
heat is very great, and the hills are covered with the same sort of 
cactus which occurs round Subathu and Kasouli. Pipal trees are 
also met with near villages, but all of them planted, and none occur 
much above Rampur. Remnants of terraces of old river shingle 
may here and there be noticed at different heights ; some at not less 
than 500 feet above the present level of the river. These evidences 
of former river action have induced some writers to indulge in fanci¬ 
ful speculations respecting vast cataclysms, and the sudden disrup- 
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