that it will not be long ere a regular survey settles
this matter. Little also is as yet known of the northeastern
face of the Himalaya or of the river system
flowing into the Sanpo, and its onward course to the
Bay of Bengal, which has long occupied geographers.
Nain Singh, the pundit, when at Lhassa, in 1874, was
told that the Sanpo was the Brahmaputra, whilst Mr.
B. Gordon, C.E., in a report, issued in 1879, endeavours
to prove, by hydrological researches principally, that
the Irawadi in reality receives the waters of the great
Tibetan river ; however, this latter view meets with few
supporters now. The same uncertainty so far exists as
regards the mineral products of this region. Of gems
theie appears to be an almost total absence;—but I
must now return to Mussoorie.
There is something grim, and at the same time
fascinating, in this wild northern aspect, whilst the
scenery in the opposite direction appears tame by comparison.
On this, the southern side, the mountain,
covered with pine forests, amongst which the far-famed
Deodar (Cedrus deodar a), descends more or less
suddenly, though seldom in precipices, and covered with
vegetation. The Mall, about a coss in length, something
like the Scotch mile and a bittock, during the
season crowded with ladies and gentlemen in jampauns
(mountain sedan chairs) or on horseback, was now
THE BEHRA BOON. 83
deserted, but nature lost none of its charms by their
absence.
Having made one or two sketches from different
points, I prepared to return on the following day, when
I examined the slopes more at my leisure. Gradually
in the intervening valleys, and in sheltered nooks,
although in the depth of the cold season, vegetation
became more varied, and many old acquaintances
turned up in the way of shrubs and flowering plants ;
indeed, as soon as warmer weather sets in, even the
bare rocks assume a gayer aspect by the appearance of
interloping grass patches. Also the Alpine flora (so
strangely missing, by the by, in the Atlas range) is
strongly represented by primroses, campanulas, gentians,
&c. ; and one of the prettiest objects here is the
Judas tree (Cercis siliguastrum) , covered with rose-
coloured flowers; also tree-ferns, and a great variety
of rhododendrons, grace the hillside.
Beyond and below lies the vast expanse of open,
broad valleys, which are those of the Dehra Doon,
whence this time I took a more easterly route to join
the railway at Saharunpore, by which I saved ten
miles. Once more I turned round to gaze upon the
endless succession of hills, thousands of feet high, and
as many silvery streamlets; then, closing my eyes, I
soon took refuge in the land of dreams and oblivion.
Gr 2