occur in the plains of Upper India, it appears evident
that the mountainous nature of the country must be
viewed as an essential element in the reasons for their
descent. These, with some others which also occur at
low levels in the Himalaya, appear to be in all parts of
the continent of India those genera of temperate climates,
which descend to the lowest altitudes. Some of them
were found by Dr. Hooker on Parasnáth, a hill in upper
Behar, the elevation of which does not exceed 4000 feet;
and they are all natives of moderate elevations on the
Nilgherries and in Ceylon, as well as on the Khasya
mountains in eastern Bengal.
The ridge which runs from Haripur to Sairi, parallel
to the river Gambar, is a branch from the Jutog spur,
nearly north of Simla, a ridge which is given off by the
main South Sutlej chain in Simla itself, and which runs
directly north to the Sutlej river. The road, after following
this ridge till within a few miles of Simla, leaves
it on the left hand, to descend into a small stony ravine;
after crossing which it mounts abruptly a very steep
spur, ascending at least 1500 feet to gain the crest of
the ridge, and enter Simla at its north-western extremity.
The hill station of Simla, which was originally selected
as a sanatarium, or suitable residence for the servants of
Government, or other Europeans, whose health had been
impaired by disease, or by too long residence in a tropical
climate, has of late years, in consequence of the political
state of north-western India, and of the increasing number
of retired officers, and of gentlemen unconnected with
the public service, who have made it their residence, become
a place of great importance. Besides an extensive
■ 1847..] s im l a . 17
m
I bazaar or collection of shops, which may now almost be
■ designated a small native town, Simla contains nearly
■ 400 houses, scattered along the crest of different moun-
■ tam ranges. Its situation is a most favourable one, on the
■ main range of mountains south of the Sutlej river, at a
■ point where a massive peak rises to a height of 8100
■feet, and on the nearest part of the ridge to the plains of
■India, which is sufficiently elevated, well wooded, and
■situated favourably with regard to water. The greater
■part of the station is built on the main range, partly
■ surrounding the peak of Jako, and partly on the ridge
■running north from it, at an elevation of about 7000
| feet, as far as a smaller culminating point of the range,
■which is by the inhabitants named Prospect Point. At
■this point the main range turns sharply to the west, and
ithe station is continued for nearly a mile on a spur
l^hich runs towards the north, passing through the sta-
Ition of Jutog. Erom the scattered position of the houses,
ithe extent of Simla is much more considerable than the
|bare statement of the number of houses might lead one
¡¡to suppose. The northern ridge extends almost four
miles, and the circuit of Jako, by the principal road,
Bdiich is from 500 to 1000 feet below the summit, measures
five miles.
i In consequence of the sudden elevation of the mountain
Irange at the place where Simla has been built, there is a
¡most complete and surprising change in the vegetation
fend general appearance of the scenery. During the last
fescent on the road from the plains this is sufficiently
perceptible, although from the great ravages which the
proximity of so large a population has made in the oak