Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The by William Griffith

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Epiphytous or at least _Epirupous_ Scitaminia. Hedychium is found on
rocks on this slope, which would give an elevation of about 5,500 feet.

On the sunny sides of hills about Simla, Dicerma is found, this is one of
the most tropical forms.

No Epiphytous Orchidea are seen. And of birds Enicurus, the redstart of
torrents, and Myophonus were observed.

CHAPTER XXIV.

_Heights and Latitudes of the Stations visited in_
_Affghanistan_. {517}

"The subjoined Table contains the latitudes and the altitudes of the
principal stations passed through by the late Dr. Griffith during the
Cabul campaign in 1838-40, from his original observations. The altitudes
for the latitudes were taken with the sextant and the artificial horizon,
and the results throughout are so nearly coincident, that it may be
relied on the latitudes herein given are correct to within half a minute
in space.

[Formula for Latitude/Elevation: m517.jpg]

_Latitudes_, _and Elevations above the Sea_, _of the various_
_localities visited in Affghanistan_.

[Lat/El. 1: tle1.jpg]

[Lat/El. 2: tle2.jpg]

[Lat/El. 3: tle3.jpg]

NOTES.

{0a} Major Thomson, C. B., Engineers, from whom as well as all the
officers of the same corps, Mr. Griffith experienced much kindness in
Affghanistan.

{0b} _Racoma nobilis_, Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. ii, p.577. t. xv
fig. 4. Subfam. SCHIZOTHORACINAE.

{0c} Calcutta Journal Natural History, Vol. II. p577, t, xv. f. 4.

{7} It is also on a northern declivity.

{9} On a hill near the Bungalow are the tombs of Lieuts. Burlton and
Beddinfield, two distinguished officers murdered by the natives in 1829.

{12} Although in former times it must have been of some note, the
vicinity is strewed with sculptured stones and columns, of which the
modern buildings are constructed. These remains present the form and
proportions of European Architecture, and exhibit considerable taste.

{24} The rank of the chiefs of various nations on the frontiers of Assam
depends on the number of skulls of vanquished enemies, which decorate
their houses. The Mishmee trophies, as appears from the author's account
in the Journ. As. Soc. May 1837, consist of the skulls of cattle only.

{25} _Trigonocephalus mucrosquamatus_, afterwards described in Proc.
Zool. Soc. 1839, Vid. Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. vol. 1, p.77.

{29a} Subsequently described from this specimen in the Proceedings of the
Zoological Society, March 12, 1839. Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. vol 1, p.82.

{29b} _Gonorhynchus bimacalutus_, _G_. _brachypterus_, _Perilompus_
_aequipinnatus_, and _Cobitis phoxocheila_, which have been all since
described from these specimens in the 19th vol. As. Res. Beng.

{31} Afterwards crossed by the author in his journey into Burma.

{33} For a narrative of Lieut. Wilcox's visit to the Mishmee mountains,
see As. Res. vol. xvii. p.314.

{35} Mithun is, according to the author, a peculiar species of Ox.

{40} Subsequently described by the author in an important communication
to the Linnaean Society.

{42} One of the most influential of the Singpho chiefs, whose influence
at this period kept Upper Assam unsettled.

{51} A Burmese authority.

{53} Probably Major R. Bruce of the Rajah's service, one of the
Superintendents of Tea Cultivation.

{54} For the whole of this able communication, detailing the object and
results of his visit to the Mishmee mountains, See Journ. As. Soc. Beng.
May 1837.

{60} See Reports of the Coal Committee, 1841, p.3.

{61a} See Description by the Author, As. Res. Bengal, Vol. xix.

{61b} Since described from these specimens as _Calamaria monticola_,
and _Dipsas monticola_. Vide Proc. Zool. Soc. March 12th 1839, and
Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. i. pp.80-85.

{61c} As. Res. Vol. xix. p.336.

{64} Dr. Bayfield was deputed by the Resident at Ava to meet the party
from Assam on the Burmese Frontier.

{66} This is one of the Mountain Barbels, _Oreinus_, probably _O_.
_guttatus_, As. Res. vol. xix. p.273.

{68} A Barbel, and an Oreinus, or Mountain Barbel.

{74a} _Opsarius gracilus_, As. Res. vol. xix. p.419.

{74b} A species of Barbel; probably _B_. _deliciosus_, As. Res. xix.
p.352.

{75} Since described as _Cyprinus semiplotus_, As. Res. vol. xix.
p.346.

{78} This would seem to be Coal formation, in which amber is frequently
found. It occurs, for instance, in the spurious coal of Kurribori, E. of
Rungpore.

{111} The reading of this passage is obscure, the MS. being very faintly
written in pencil.

{113} Introd. Nat. Syst. p.44.

{114} The preceding eight pages within brackets are written faintly in
pencil.

{115a} The usual route is to Kujoo Ghat, about five miles below Moodoa
Mookh, thence through Sooroo, Kujoo, etc. to the Booree Dihing.

{115b} By the Karam and this other branch, on which old Beesa was
situated, all the water which formerly supplied the Noa Dihing now passes
into the Booree Dihing.

{116} Most of the Singphos subject to our control are located between
Kujoo Ghat and the Booree Dihing, as well as on the banks of this river
and in the valley of the Tenga Panee.

{117} The existence of Petroleum is of value as connected with the
solution of Caoutchouc.

{118} The affix Nam, signifies in the Shan language a river or stream.

{119a} The word _Kha_ is Singfo, and signifies a river.

{119b} Here Capt. Hannay and myself were met by Mr. Bayfield.

{119c} Khioung, or Kioung, signifies a small river in the Burmese
language.

{119d} Bhoom is the Singfo word for mountain.

{124a} Which we forded a few miles below Isilone; depth of the ford from
two to four feet.

{124b} In this direction the valley is nearly 65 miles in length.

{125} This river rises in a conspicuous range, well known by the name of
Shewe Down-gyee, or great golden mountain.

{126} This is certainly not the Ulukhor of Buch. Hamilton's statistics of
Dinajpoor.

{128} Probably from a species of Sterculia.

{129} The Toung-bein of the Burmese.

{130} Many of these hills are inhabited by Kukkeens, who do a great deal
of mischief, and whose annual depredations remain unchecked and
unpunished.

{132} Serpentine is occasionally found in the bed of the Nam-marsan.

{139} Especially on the right bank.

{145} It must be observed that Kamein is several miles out of the route
from the Mogoung river to Mogoung itself, we visited it en route to the
Serpentine mines.

{147} This is the site of the fossil bones discovered by Mr. Crawfurd.

{149} These brackets are shown in the text turned through 90 degrees. -
L. B.

{168} The Kullung rock is a most striking object from its artificial dome-
like appearance. It is composed of granite resting on an elevated
plateau of soft friable gneiss. This last in mouldering away, leaves
numerous rounded boulder-like masses of granite on the surface, which
from their hardness, resist the action of the atmosphere amidst the
surrounding decay of the softer rock.

{172} For original notice of the discovery of this raised beach, see
Journal of the Asiatic Society, September 1835, p.523; and an account of
the difference of level in Indian coal fields, vol. vii, 1838, p.65 of
the same work; also description of Cyrtoma a new genus of Fossil
Echinida, Calcutta Journal of Nat. Hist. vol. i, p.155.

{183} Simia Hylobates agilis.

{186} Raised on posts.

{193} See Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol,--Feb. 1838.

{205a} Eastern Thibet.

{205b} For this and similar figures, see {212}

{205c} _Barbus hexagonolepis_, Asiatic Res. xix.--Pl. f. 3, pp.170,
313, 336.

{205d} Cyprinus Semiplotus As. Res. xix.--Pl. 37. f. 2, pp.274, 346.

{206a} Opsarius gracilus, As. Res. vol. xix.

{206b} See {35}

{212} Such figures may be thus read. Temp. of the air 60 degrees Fah.,
that of boiling water 204.5 degrees.

{217a} Relative heights.

{217b} These figures refer to Woollaston's thermetrical barometer.

{221} Centropus nigrorufus.

{227} _Oreinus progastus_, As. Res. vol. xix. pl. 40, fig. 4.

{349} Referred to by the Author as an Anthemidioid, and on one occasion
as _Santonica achilleoidea_.

{383} Schizothorax Edeniana, Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. II. p.579.

{390a} Schizothoracinae.

{390b} Cobitis marmorata, see Calcutta Journal of Nat. Hist. Vol. II,
p.560, where the Fishes collected by Mr. Griffith in these parts are
described.

{404} Salmo orientalis, Calcutta, Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. III. p.283.

Throughout Southern Asia, including the Punjab, and both plains and
peninsula of India properly so called, no species exists of the trout
family or Salmonidae. Their discovery in the streams descending from the
northern declivity of the Hindoo-koosh distinguishes that chain as the
southern boundary or limit of the family. It is also remarkable that the
Hindoo-koosh should likewise be the exclusive province of a numerous
group of small scaled Cyprinidae, met with only in the rivers of
Affghanistan, consisting of the genera, Schizothorax, Racoma, and
Oreinus, of which one or two species only have been found to extend south
along the plateau of the Himalaya, as far as 27 degrees N., while the
bulk of the family is confined to 34 degrees N. See Calcutta Journ. Nat.
Hist. Vol. II. p.560 t. xv.

{417} This alludes to a sketch of the valley.

{418} Melia.

{435} For the particulars of this attack in which Mr. Griffith nearly
lost his life, the reader is referred to extracts from private
correspondence.

{450} These sketches, together with the author's further views on the
subject, will be more appropriately incorporated in the second part of
his Posthumous Papers, entitled 'Icones Plantarum Asiaticarum,' and
'Notulae ad plantas Asiaticas.'

{479} Nearly allied to _Cobitis chlorosoma_, As. Res. Vol. xix, pl. 52,
f. 3.

{481} This is an undescribed species if not an undescribed genus, and was
by some mischance lost from the collections; it may properly, when
described, receive the name of the author, who was the first to notice so
remarkable a form.

{484} It is chiefly important as a generic, not as a specific character,
see _November 1st_.

{517} The Editor is indebted to the kindness of Mr. Curnin, not only for
the note with which this table of heights and latitudes is introduced,
but also for the construction of the table itself from the results of 437
observations for latitudes alone, and an equal number almost for
altitudes.