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INDIA

passes traversing the Himalayas in the north-west, centre,
and south-east respectively.
In such an extent of mountain and valley as is
represented by the Himalayas, we may expect to find
every conceivable climate and every variety of vegetation,
 from the tropical growths of the low-lying valleys
where the heat is at times as great as anything known
in the plains of India, to the scanty, snow-bound vegetation
 of the highest altitudes which permit of vegetable
growth at all. The Himalayas have consequently been
more misrepresented by travellers than any other portion
of the infinitely varied continent of India. The lower
ranges, which at some points slope up steeply from the
plains, are elsewhere divided from the plains by subsidiary
ranges of recent formation, enclosing valleys, called Dun,
at elevations of 2000 to 3000 feet between themselves
and their foothills. These outer ranges, facing south and
south-west, are covered with luxuriant vegetation, varying
with the varying altitude, tropical in character towards
Assam and the eastern branches of the Himalayas, but
allied to the vegetation of temperate zones in the northwest.
 Here the various pines (chiefly the pinus excelsa
and pinus longifolia) flourish alongside the Himalayan oak
and rhododendron, which latter grow to the size of shade
trees. In some parts firs predominate over pines ; in others
there are no firs and only pines, deodar (the cedar of
Lebanon), oak forests, and rhododendrons. The dividing
line between different classes of flora are often strongly
marked. For instance, eight miles from Simla, along the
great Tibet road, at Mashobra, we find pines replaced by
firs, and the silver oak giving place to the green oak, whilst
trees of new species exist which are unknown in Simla.
Altitude, doubtless, has much influence on the differentiation
 of vegetable growth, even as instanced in some
particular species. At altitudes of 7000 or 8oco feet, the
rhododendron grows to the size of trees, and the brilliant
scarlet and pink blossoms of it are the glory of Simla in
the late spring. On the spur or offshoot of the snowy
mountains which enclose the reputed head of the Ganges