Throughout the march we observed many detached houses on the mountains forming the right bank of the Koollong, and much cultivation, all of the terrace sort.  Passed one village beneath us about 700 feet, containing twelve houses, and the one mentioned above; as usual, ruined houses occur.

Cattle furnished with litters of leaves; a curious low was heard, like that of an elephant.

Booteas work their own cotton, much of which is cultivated along the rivers at low elevations.

Higher land, certainly 11 to 12,000 feet high, was visible to the north side:  on this a good deal of snow was visible.

[Gradient Khumna to Phoollong:  g235.jpg}

February 8th.—­Towards the morning it commenced to rain; snow has fallen on both sides the Koollong:  it has fallen on the road we came by yesterday, and on the hills above to within 200 feet of us, or in some places to the level of this.  Exemption in favour of this place is to be attributed to local causes.  The trees in the neighbourhood are completely covered with it, and it is said to have fallen here twice during the night,

The Bootea houses are ill calculated for rain, they leak all around as indeed might be expected, from the nature of the roofs, which consist of boards, kept in situ by stones.  It would be curious to ascertain the temperature under which snow does not fall, and if possible the temperature here and among the snow.  In the morning, sleet with a few flakes of snow fell also, but only occasionally.

Snow continued to fall throughout the day, and steadily too:  it commenced slightly:  as the cold increased it ceased to melt on reaching the ground, and at length all around was a sheet of white.  The variations of the thermometer were considerable and frequent, the wind blowing pretty steadily from the south-east.

At 10 A.M. 37 degrees Snow commencing. 
At 10.5 A.M. 36 degrees South-east wind. 
At 10.75 A.M.40 degrees Wind from the north, snow rather heavy. 
At 11.75 A.M.37 degrees South-east. 
At 12 Noon 35 degrees ditto. 
At 12.5 P.M. 36 degrees ditto. 
At 2.5 P.M. 37 degrees ditto. 
At 4 P.M. 39 degrees ditto. 
At 6 P.M. 37 degrees ditto. 
At 9 P.M. 38 degrees ditto.

Fine moonlight night.  View to the north beautiful; every thing silvered with snow; the deep and black ravine of the Koollong is particularly conspicuous, and on some cultivated spots the pendulous cypress with its sombre head and branches covered with snow, was also remarkable, altogether a beautiful scene.  Larch-like firs were visible 500 feet over the road leading to this from Khumna.

February 9th.—­Fine sunny morning:  thermometer at 7 A.M. 35 degrees:  at 8 A.M. 42 degrees.  Hills around covered with snow.  High ridge to south plainly visible, a good deal of snow visible.  Went out at noon over to the south-east, in which direction a pine wood was visible; this I ascertained to consist of Pinus or Abies pendula, which has much the habit of a Larch.  The altitude of this above Phoollong is certainly 1,000 feet; snow covered the ground in all sheltered spots.  The woods here are formed chiefly of Q. robur, Q. ilecifolia also occurs here and there, Gordonia, Cerasus, Rhododendron minus.