Page:TASJ-1-3.djvu/262

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turesque though much smaller tree (none that I have seen being over 40 or 50 feet in height) grows on the higher ranges, particularly on the summit of Odai Yamuna. There also I found Abies Veitchii, a beautiful species of silver fir. The cone of this species is very small, dark purple, tinged with brown, growing erect near the axillæ of the branchlets. The scales are very horizontal, and the cone usually splotched over with resin. Pinus Silvestris (Scotch fir) is not plentiful, though found on these mountains.

I have now named most of the coniferæ growing in this locality. There are a few other species, less common and only found in a few places, and then generally as single plants. But those I have mentioned constitute the cone forests, and of all these none grow to the height and large dimensions of the Pinus Firma. Many a magnificent old patriarch I came across, frequently a dozen or more, in the space of an acre or so, all colossal trees, and in rare perfection as timber; but as to their being made timber of, they are perfectly safe, as it would be impossible to transport them as such to the habitation of man. I am only 3100 feet up and have but named the Pines. To enumerate the deciduous shrubs which I have passed through would be an endless task. I observed great numbers of myrtles, camellias, the wild paper mulberry and innumerable other species.

From the summit of the first range, where we now were, and looking back, the whole sea-coast lay at our feet, the indentations and harbours, looking like threads of silver, running and twisting amongst the hills and valleys. The path now led away along the ridge of a range at right angles to the one we had ascended, and for 31/2 miles we went very evenly, then dipped down 1,000 feet, crossing a mountain torrent, and immediately ascended to 4000 feet. Here was a great change in the Flora, nothing but oak, beech, chestnut and maple, no pines, the under cover bamboo grass, identical, I believe, with that in Yeso. Along this 4,000 feet ridge, we went for several miles, when suddenly the path reach-