The coldest weather we have yet experienced was at Maamloo, on the 27th, the thermometer at 8 P.M. being at 52 degrees.  This is remarkable, as Maamloo is rather below Churra.  There is however a good deal of wood round the place. {7}

With regard to Botany, the chief vegetation about Churra, as indeed is at once indicated by the appearance of the country, consists of grasses.  Along the water-courses, which intersect this portion of the country, Bucklandia populnea, a species of Ternstraemia, Pandanus, Eugenia, Camellia, are found; while Compositae, Eriocaulon, and ferns abound in the same places.  The vegetation of the valleys is very rich and very varied; and, an affinity is indicated with the botany of China by the existence of a species of Illicum, I. khascanam, and several Ternstroemiaceae.  The great orders are grasses, ferns, compositae.  During a trip to Maamloo, a beautifully situated village on the brink of the table-land, we discovered abundance of the tree-fern Alsophila Brunoniana, the highest of which measured 25 feet.  The appearance of the tree is that of a palm.  The flora surrounding these tree-ferns we found to be exceedingly rich.  Among Nepal ferns, I may mention Anisadenia, Saxifraga ligulata.

Interior of the Khasyah Mountains.—­On the 2nd, we left for Surureem; at which place we halted a day.  Bucklandia here occurs, of a very large size, perhaps 50 or 60 feet.  It is a rugged-looking tree, many of the branches being decayed.  There we observed the first Rhododendrum arboreum.  Our next stage was to Moflong; during our march thither, or rather mine, I had a fine view of the Himalayas, but not upon the regular road to Moflong.  The European forms certainly increased in number between Surureem and the above place.  Two great acquisitions occurred on the road; a new Crawfurdia, and a Podostemon which W. has named after me.  This I found in the clear stream adjoining the Bogapanee growing upon stones, and adhering to them very firmly.  It is on the hills about the Bogapanee that the firs first make their appearance, but do not attain to any great size.  The valley of the Bogapanee is exceedingly deep, and both the descent and ascent are very difficult.

Moflong is a bleak exposed village and the bungalow or residence for travellers very bad.  The number of European forms we found to increase considerably about this place.  The only woods that occur are of fir, but the trees are of no great size; their frequent occurrence, however, stamps a peculiar feature on the scenery.  We here experienced nearly three days of continued rain, and, as the place is bleak, we were miserable enough.  We left for Myrung on the 9th, and the greater and all the first part of the long march was very uninteresting.  At Mumbree, however, there is a decided improvement, and the scenery is very good.  One here notices the occurrence of woods—­of oaks, etc.,