ancient rock, for on the ascent after crossing the river,
the strata were very highly inclined, and often bent into
large curves. The rock was also more indurated, and
different in colour and appearance from that of the outer
hills. I did not, however, observe the place where the
change took place.
Next day, the ascent continued equally steep and
bare as the day before, and there was still much cultivation,
wherever the surface was sufficiently level for
the purpose, or could be made so by means of terracing.
During the preceding day’s march, the fields of
wheat and barley had been for some time cut, but here,
though generally ripe, they were still standing. On attaining
an elevation of about 7000 feet, the steep spur
which I had been ascending joined the main ridge, and
the road, turning to the east, entered a thick forest of
small oak-trees (Q. lanatd) through which it continued,
alternately descending and ascending a little, as it entered
the recesses or advanced along the projecting ridges.
The greatest height attained may have been about 8000
feet, and the summit of the range, which was frequently
visible, did not seem to be above 1000 feet higher. After
about three miles of forest, the hills again became bare,
and continued so till the end of the march, which terminated
by an abrupt descent of 600 or 700 feet to a
ravine, and an equally steep ascent to the village of Pata,
which was elevated about 7500 feet. Throughout the
day, the vegetation, both in the forest and on the open
tracts, was identical with that of the Simla hills. The
forest consisted of oak, Rhododendron, and Andromeda.
Pines were visible at the very top of the ridge, but did
not cross to the southern exposure : they appeared to be
Picea Webbiana {Pindrow). The village at which I
encamped was of considerable size, with extensive
wheat cultivation, very luxuriant and in full ear, but
still quite green. Many trees of the glabrous hollyleaved
oak were scattered among the fields, which,
from the lateral branches having been lopped off by
the villagers, rose to a great height with an erect
poplar-like trunk, bearing only a small tuft of branches
at the top, in a manner very foreign to the usual habit
of the tree.
On the 29th of May I crossed the range along which
I had travelled the previous day, and descended into a
valley watered by a tributary of the Chenab, running
towards the north-west. The ascent, which was bare
and grassy, amounted only to about 1000 feet in perpendicular
height. Close to the top, a few trees of Picea made
their appearance, while I was still on the south face of
the ridge, and on gaining the crest of the pass, I found
that the northern slope was occupied by a fine forest of
the same tree. As the range was not sufficiently elevated
to produce any really alpine plants, the vegetation presented
little worthy of note. Viburnum nervosum was
the commonest shrub, and an Anemone, a Ranunculus,
the common Gypsophila and Trifolium repens were the
herbs which predominated at the top.
The road descended rapidly through fine forest. The
sombre silver fir was, after a short descent, mixed with
plenty of horse-chesnut and sycamore, and of the glabrousleaved
oak. Lower down, deodar and Abies Smithiana
also appeared, and on arriving in the valley, the forest
y 2