Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries Part 70

Visc.u.m has one attachment, but from this many branches spring after the form of the primary one. Muha.s.soo is of great extent, because an arm of the mountain extends to the south, and there a.s.sumes a considerable height, equal to that of Muha.s.soo itself, and equally well wooded. It is of all other situations about Simla the proper place for collecting. The succession of the pines in these regions is as follows:--

P. longifolia, dry barren spots, from 5,000 to 7,500 feet, as Rhododendrum arboreum.

P. excelsa, from 7,500 to 8,500 feet, no groups occur.

P. Deodars, from 7,500 to 9,000 feet, especially on southern faces.

P. Smithiana, from 9,000 to 10,000 feet, and is in the highest perfection on north faces.

One thing remarkable is the wide ranges of the above forms, for excepting those marked with an asterisk, all are found about Simla.

The most common herbaceous family on Muha.s.soo is Compositae, and very strange to say, most of its forms, as indeed the others, excepting some of the trees, are found on the Khasyah Mountains at much lower elevations, and much lower lat.i.tudes. Of birds the _Cone-eater_ of Bootan occurs.

_7th_.--To Annandale, a pretty level spot, some 2,000 feet below Simla, remarkable for its beautiful grove of Deodars.

Of the wild gra.s.ses they are almost all exclusively tropical forms, Paniceous or Andropogoneous. The chief cultivation of the hills, Atriplex sanguinea, _bhatoo vena_, some fine walnut trees, mulberries, also Celtoidea? _Kirrack ven_, Zanthoxylon.

Pa.s.sed a herd of red-rumped monkeys; the crooked-tailed _Lungoor_ is also found here.

Rich vegetation extends down the southern slope, where there is a waterfall. It is curious that both here and in Annandale the Deodar grows to a large size, although naturally its range does not extend so low as this slope. Pa.s.sed a beautiful temple, surrounded with fine Deodars.

Ferns occur in more abundance, thence downwards Woodwardia, d.i.c.ksonia?

Cyatheoides, and Adiantum. Mosses also occur on the dripping rocks.

An Alnus also occurs.

No fish were visible in the streamlet. Peristrophe occurs throughout from Roopur to Simla.

Epiphytous or at least _Epirupous_ Scitaminia. Hedychium is found on rocks on this slope, which would give an elevation of about 5,500 feet.

On the sunny sides of hills about Simla, Dicerma is found, this is one of the most tropical forms.

No Epiphytous Orchidea are seen. And of birds Enicurus, the redstart of torrents, and Myophonus were observed.

CHAPTER XXIV.

_Heights and Lat.i.tudes of the Stations visited in_ _Affghanistan_. {517}

"The subjoined Table contains the lat.i.tudes and the alt.i.tudes of the princ.i.p.al stations pa.s.sed through by the late Dr. Griffith during the Cabul campaign in 1838-40, from his original observations. The alt.i.tudes for the lat.i.tudes were taken with the s.e.xtant and the artificial horizon, and the results throughout are so nearly coincident, that it may be relied on the lat.i.tudes herein given are correct to within half a minute in s.p.a.ce.

[Formula for Lat.i.tude/Elevation: m517.jpg]

_Lat.i.tudes_, _and Elevations above the Sea_, _of the various_ _localities visited in Affghanistan_.

[Lat/El. 1: tle1.jpg]

[Lat/El. 2: tle2.jpg]

[Lat/El. 3: tle3.jpg]

NOTES.

{0a} Major Thomson, C. B., Engineers, from whom as well as all the officers of the same corps, Mr. Griffith experienced much kindness in Affghanistan.

{0b} _Racoma n.o.bilis_, Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. ii, p.577. t. xv fig. 4. Subfam. SCHIZOTHORACINAE.

{0c} Calcutta Journal Natural History, Vol. II. p577, t, xv. f. 4.

{7} It is also on a northern declivity.

{9} On a hill near the Bungalow are the tombs of Lieuts. Burlton and Beddinfield, two distinguished officers murdered by the natives in 1829.

{12} Although in former times it must have been of some note, the vicinity is strewed with sculptured stones and columns, of which the modern buildings are constructed. These remains present the form and proportions of European Architecture, and exhibit considerable taste.

{24} The rank of the chiefs of various nations on the frontiers of a.s.sam depends on the number of skulls of vanquished enemies, which decorate their houses. The Mishmee trophies, as appears from the author's account in the Journ. As. Soc. May 1837, consist of the skulls of cattle only.

{25} _Trigonocephalus mucrosquamatus_, afterwards described in Proc.

Zool. Soc. 1839, Vid. Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. vol. 1, p.77.

{29a} Subsequently described from this specimen in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, March 12, 1839. Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. vol 1, p.82.

{29b} _Gonorhynchus bimacalutus_, _G_. _brachypterus_, _Perilompus_ _aequipinnatus_, and _Cobitis phoxocheila_, which have been all since described from these specimens in the 19th vol. As. Res. Beng.

{31} Afterwards crossed by the author in his journey into Burma.

{33} For a narrative of Lieut. Wilc.o.x's visit to the Mishmee mountains, see As. Res. vol. xvii. p.314.

{35} Mithun is, according to the author, a peculiar species of Ox.

{40} Subsequently described by the author in an important communication to the Linnaean Society.

{42} One of the most influential of the Singpho chiefs, whose influence at this period kept Upper a.s.sam unsettled.

{51} A Burmese authority.

{53} Probably Major R. Bruce of the Rajah's service, one of the Superintendents of Tea Cultivation.

{54} For the whole of this able communication, detailing the object and results of his visit to the Mishmee mountains, See Journ. As. Soc. Beng.

May 1837.

{60} See Reports of the Coal Committee, 1841, p.3.