The lower part of these hills, and some of the adjacent plains, are the grand seat of the Sal { 67a} forests, among which are many trees of the species of _Dalbergia_, called _Sisau_, { 67b} and of the _Cedrella_, which at Calcutta, is called _Tungd_, (_toon_ of the English,) but which in the forests adjacent to Puraniya, is called _Chilli kath_. Higher up, the hills are covered with a vast variety of trees, nearly resembling those of _Goyalpara_, of which I intend hereafter to give an account; but in the hills of the North, there are many pines (_Pinus longifolia_,) which the mountain Hindus call _Salla_, { 67c} and an abundance of the _Mimosa_ (_Khaira_,) of which catechu is made. A great many people are employed in preparing this drug. A few of them belong to the company’s territory, but by far the greater part are the subjects of Gorkha. Each man pays a duty to the Raja, of from three to five rupees, and during the fair season makes from eight to ten _mans_ of the Calcutta weight, which is nearly 82 lbs. The merchants, who advance money for subsistence, usually give the workman four rupees a man, that is, from 32 to 40 rupees for six months work; but from this the tax must be deducted. The greater part is sent to Patna and Banaras.
In these woods, a vast number of these kinds of birds which are tamed by the natives on account of their singing or imitating the human voice, form their nests, which are considered as the property of the Raja. These birds are,
Madna, Kajla, Two parakeets nearly allied to the Psittacus gingianus of Latham.
Chandana, a parakeet not described by Latham.
Latkan, a small short-tailed parakeet, nearly allied to the Psittacus galgulus.
The right of taking the young birds from the nest is farmed to men, who again employ people to climb the trees, when the birds are first fledged. These people keep the birds for two months, and then deliver one half to the renter, and take the remainder to themselves. Petty dealers come from the low country, purchase the birds, and disperse them through Bengal.
In several places, these low hills are separated from the high mountains by fine vallies of a considerable length, but a good deal elevated above the plain of Hindustan. In the country west from the Ganges, these vallies are called by the generic name Dun, analogous to the Scottish word Strath; but towards the east, the word Dun is unknown, nor did I hear of any generic term used there for such vallies, although there are very fine ones in that part of the country.