Valleys.—The Debra Doomm is a winter valley. Its length is about 45 miles and its breadth about half that. It is shut on the north by the Siwalik range, rising 3000 feet high. On the E. are numerous mountains rising 7000 or 8000 feet, amongst them 3fussoori and Landour ; the Asutt and the Sooswa rivers drain it. It is clear of jungle, and well cultivated. The tea-plant thrives, and the village of Debra is large and thriving.
In the Kangra valley, some places like Bhagsu (DharmsaLt), and the road from Kangra town, Haurabagh and Fouta-Kal, are beautiful, as also are the views of the Snowy Range. Kot Kangra or Kangra town was the capital of a owerful hill state, which was conquered by the bikhs. It is 2500 feet above the level of the sea. Bhagsu, above Dhannsala, is 7000 feet above the sea. Ilanrabagh is 7000 feet, and Fouta-Kal 9000 feet above the sea. Time Kangra people are sturdy, honest, and independent.
The Sutlej valley commences a few miles above Mundi, and continues up for about 40 miles, almost to Simla and Subathu, and has the sana toria of Simla, Kussowlee, Nagkunda, and Chor. Mundi is the chief town of the 3fundi state. The Sutlej people are amiable and gentle, free of low cunning, having the appearance of a mixed race between the Tartar and the common hill men. They are fair, well made, and strong, but are filthy and indigent. The women have a toga fastened round the waist. Nagkunda is esti mated at 9000 feet above the level of the sea. Chor is 12,000 feet.
The Beas valley exceeds in beauty that of Kashmir. It runs from the Bajaora mountain on the north, to the Snowy Range on the south, a length of about 60 miles, and its heights range from 4500 feet at the foot of the Bajaora pass, to 9000 feet at Ralha at the foot of the Rotang pass. Sultanpur is 4584 feet. It is the only town in the valley, and trades with Ladakh, Central Asia, Mundi, and Kangra. Polyandry prevails in the Beas valley, but the general immorality is ascribed to the large numbers of Yarkandi traders.
Kulu.—The poorer Kulu people wear only a blanket, wound around the waist, and one end flung across the shoulders and pinned across the chest ; men and women often dress alike, but the long hair of the women is plaited in one tress.
Animal Life.—The partridge has been observed 16,080 feet above the sea, and crows and ravens 16,500. The Khalij pheasants never descend below 12,000 feet ; and high over the Kinchinghow (22,756 feet), flocks of wild geese are seen to wing their flight. The wild yak, the existence of which in the wild state has been doubted, and the Mang, five to six species of wild sheep and goats, hares, and mice, are found as high as 16,000 to 17,000 feet. The highest permanent village occupied by man is at 11,746 feet (Dareke), but in summer the herdsmen go higher up the mountains. On the southern slope the cultivation has not risen higher than 10,000 feet ; but on the north side are the cultivated valleys of the Baspa river at 11,400 feet, and advancing farther, the habitations of man are to be seen as high as 13,000 feet, and cultiva tion 13,600 feet. There are many shrines and sacred spots within the ranges to which Hindu pilgrims resort, and numbers of them perish amidst the perpetual snows. Amongst them is Badarinath, in Garhwal, a temple dedicated to an incarnation of Vislmu, 10,294 feet above the sea. Kedarnath is another Vaishnava temple within the Himalayas, 11,794 feet above the sea ; Gangotri also, in Garhwal, at 10,319 feet of elevation, is another shrine, its vicinity being sacred to Hindu thought, as near it, at 13,800 feet, the Bhagirathi issues, no puny stream, from beneath a glacier. Flora. — If we commence with the bases of these mountains, and pass successively through the several belts, we first find a vegetation similar to that of the southern provinces of India : the agri cultural products consist of rice, millet, amaranth, an esculent arum, ginger, turmeric, a little cotton, and sugar, at the season, succeeded by wheat, barley, and buckwheat, in the cold-weather months. Along with plantains, oleander, and some of the orange tribe, we meet also with some species which were long considered peculiar to China, as Marlea begonifolia and Houttuynia cor data, with species of Chloranthus, Incarvillea, and others. On ascending higher, we pass through different gradations of vegetation until reaching the regions of the oaks and rhododendrons, which is immediately succeeded by that of pines.