BO OTA N. 
391 
their harvest; and the ground yields them, as in other parts of Boutan, 
a second crop of rice. Here are to be found in the jungles, two spe¬ 
cies of the laurus of Linnaeus; one known by the name of the bastard 
cinnamon. The bark of the root of this plant, when dried, has very 
much the taste and flavour of cinnamon; it is used medicinally by 
the natives. The chenopodium, producing the semen santonicum, or 
wormseed, a medicine formerly in great character, and used in those 
diseases from which it is named, is common here. 
Found in the neighbourhood of this place, all the European plants 
we had met with on the road. The ascent from Buxaduar to Muri- 
shong is upon the whole great, with a sensible change in the state of 
the air. 
May 25. On the road to Chooka 6 found all the Murishong plants, 
cinnamon tree, willow, and one or two firs; strawberries every where 
and very good, and a few bilberry plants. 
Much sparry flint, and a sort of granite with which the road is 
paved. There is a great deal of talc in the stones and soil, but in too 
small pieces to be useful. Frequent beds of clay and pure sand. Found 
two mineral wells slightly impregnated with iron, with much appear¬ 
ance of that metal in this part of the country; and they are not unac¬ 
quainted with the method of extracting it from the stones, but still 
despise its use in building. Towards Chooka there are many well 
cultivated fields, of wheat and barley. 
May 26. Road to Punukha f . From Chooka the country opens, and 
presents to view many well cultivated fields and distant villages; a 
e Chuka. 
f Punugga. 
