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HAMILTON

he passed in his novel and interesting expedition. I will only mention as a proof of his accuracy, that it has been stated that during the late military operations against the Sikhs, our officers derived the greatest advantage from the correctness with which he had described the country he visited, and the care with which it was laid down in the map constructed by Mr Arrowsmith chiefly from his materials. When we recollect the difficulties of travelling in Eastern countries, and particularly in the then less known portions of Runjeet Singh's dominions, unassisted by a single companion, as was the case with Baron Hügel, we can well appreciate the energy with which he carried out his plans, and the perseverance which enabled him so faithfully to record what he had seen.

But to return to our narrative. After many months of preparation and delay, Baron Hügel started from Simla on the 13th of October, 1835, and crossed the Sutlej into the Maharajah's territory at Belaspoor. The lateness of the season prevented his taking the less frequented route by the Berenda Pass, and thus reaching Cashmere by way of Ladak. Equally unwilling to cross the plains of the Punjab, Baron Hügel determined to take the direction of the lowest range of the Himalaya: thus avoiding the difficulties of the mountain-passes and the monotony of the plains.

From Belaspoor he proceeded to Narpoor, thence to Cashmere by the more practicable route of Jammú, thus skirting the Punjab, instead of attempting the then impassable route by Kishtiwar. Here the vegetation is described as truly luxuriant; watered as the country is by the numerous streams rising at the foot of the Himalayas, or within the parallel ranges by which it is skirted. After quitting Jammú, he entered a mountainous district, and, proceeding in a more northerly direction, entered the happy