The most marked peculiarity is the comparative absence of A. densa on the east side of the mountain, and its excessive abundance on the west.  This valley may be justly called the valley of pines, for in no direction is any forest to be seen but those composed of pines.  The change indeed is extraordinary, in other respects as indicated by the presence of a new Rosa and Prinsepia utilis.  Another peculiarity is the appearance for the first time of A. spinulosa.  The range of which is between 8 to 10,000 feet; this is a beautiful tree, and disposed in beautiful groups.  The valley altogether is a beautiful one, and actually repays one for the trouble endured in getting access to it.

The temperature in crossing the ridge was below that on Dhonglaila, and below the freezing point at times.  No inconvenience was felt by us from the elevation, but many of our servants suffered probably as much from fright as cold.

February 27th.—­Halted.

February 28th.—­This valley is certainly the prettiest place we have yet seen, the left bank is particularly level, but neither are of much breadth, the hills adjacent present rounded grassy patches, interspersed with beautiful groves of pines.  The level space, as well as the more favourable sites on the slopes of the hills, are occupied by wheat cultivation, which is carried on in a more workman-like manner, than any of the previous cultivation I have hitherto seen.  The fields are occasionally surrounded with stone walls, but generally only protected from the inroads of cattle by branches of thorny shrubs strewed on their edges.  They are kept clean, and above all, manure is used:  it is however dry and of a poor quality, apparently formed of animal and vegetable moulds.  In some of the fields the surface is kept very fine, all stones and clods being carefully removed and piled up in various parts of the field, but whether these masses are again strewed over the ground.  The plough is used, and penetrates to about four inches.  Hoes and rakes are also used, but the angle of the handle is much too acute.  Radishes are grown with the wheat:  no rice is cultivated here.

The village Bhoomlungtung, at which we are stationed is on the left bank of a branch of the Bhoomla nullah, a river of some size, but fordable in most places, its bed being subdivided.  It is 8,668 feet above the sea.  The houses are ordinary, but they are surrounded with stone walls.  Our’s, which is a portion of the Dhumpas or headman’s, has a court-yard, surrounded by a stone wall, and the entrance is defended by a stout and large door.  The natives invariably wear dark clothing, the colour being only rivalled by that of their skins, for I never saw dirtier people.  The Bhooteas hitherto visited, were quite paragons of cleanliness compared to those we are now among.  Half ruined villages are visible here and there, although otherwise the appearance of the valley is prosperous enough.