Chapter 24

_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.