I observed water-ouzels, bucco, water-wagtails, bulbuls, ordinary and yellow-rumped.

[Gradient Nulka to Khumna:  g232.jpg]

Passed cotton cultivation in two places, one close to the Monass, and one to the Koollong, both equally bad, and observed Begonia edule, which they call Sheemptsee, and which they eat.

The road to-day was generally good, overhanging in one place the Monass at a height of forty yards above, and below scarped precipices.  The road here was constructed or supported artificially.  Distance six miles.

February 7th.—­To Phoollong.  Left at 9.5 A.M., and immediately commenced ascending.  The ascent was at first steep, then gradually wound round the Khumna mountain, which was most barren throughout.  The ascent continued but very gradually until we came near Phoollong, to which we descended, and then ascended about 1,000 feet.  About half-way, and when we had ascended perhaps 1,000 feet, we came on new vegetation, oaks, Rhododendra, etc. as before, and this continued improving in denseness until we reached the village.  The distance is five miles, ascent about 1,500 feet, but so gradual, that one would not imagine it more than 800 feet.  At Khumna, I noticed Pinus longifolia, Pyrus malus, Achyranthes dense, Cirrus, Urtica urens, tobacco, Musa, Datura, Artemisia major.  Hogs are fed here in large circular platters made of stone scooped out.

Commencing the ascent, I observed Ficus cordata of Bhamru, Rhus pendula, Indigofera elatior, Conaria, Pteris aquilina, Cerasus commenced at 5,000 feet.  Then Desmodium vestilum, Artemisia minor, Conyza laculia, Rubus deltifolius, Labiata Sudyensis, Acanth. caerulescens.

Quercus robur commenced at about 5,200 feet, but stunted Flemingia secunda, then Gaultheria arborea, Gnaphalium nivea.

Here there was a high ridge to the right, crowned with a wood of Q. robur, all the leaves of which had fallen.  Myrica, Rhododendron, Jubrung, Didymocarpus contortus on rocks, Cnicus, Clematis cana, Polygonum rheoides.  At a village here, which contained ten houses, observed Cupressus pendula, Citrus, wheat, Bambusa, then Juncus.  Primula of the Khasya hills.  Q. robur abundant, Composita penduliflora, Saurauja hispida, Equisetum, Rubus caesius, Alnus of Thumathaya, Elaeagnus spinosus, E. macrophyllus 5,300 feet:  Plantago, Coriaria, Erythrina, Rhus acidum, Cerastium coenum, Dipsacus, Viburnum microphyllum, Rubia cordifolia, Barleria, Tetranthera oleosa, Hedera, Gentiana, Myrsine, Blasia, Fleshy urticea, Q. robur, Gordonia, Adamia, Neckera jungermannoides and laeta, Primula in abundance, Acorus, Calamus, Scirpus kysoor of Churra, Gram. latifolia, Andropogonoides of Suniassa.

Coming on a well-wooded ravine close to Phoollong, the first I have seen since leaving Balphai, found Quercus 2, Castanea, Gordonia, Spiraea decomposita, and S. Bella, Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Thalictrum, Quercus, Curculigo, Viburnum caerulescens, Indigofera elatior, Gnaphalium niveum, Sempervivum on rocks, Panicum eleusinoides, Thibaudia myrtifolia, Swertia major, Alnus as before, Rubus moluccanus, Salix lanata, Primula Simsii, Phlomoides, Orthodon.