A layer of vegetable earth almost invariably covers the clay to the depth of from three to twelve or fourteen inches. It is a very rich black mould, held in its position on the slopes of the hills by the dense vegetation, and accumulated on the banks of small streams to a depth at times of three and four feet. The following is an analysis of an average specimen of the surface-soil of Dorjiling, made for me by my friend C. J. Muller, Esq., of that place:-- _a._--DRY EARTH. Anhydrous 83.84 Water 16.16 ------ 100.00 _b._--ANHYDROUS EARTH. Humic acid 3.89 Humine 4.61 Undecomposed vegetable matter 20.98 Peroxide of iron and manganese 7.05 Alumina 8.95 Siliceous matter, insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid 54.52 Traces of soda and muriatic acid -- ------ 100.00 _c._--Soluble in water, gr. 1.26 per cent., consisting of soda, muriatic acid, organic matter, and silica. The soil from which this example was taken was twelve inches deep; it abounded to the eye in vegetable matter, and was siliceous to the touch. There were no traces of phosphates or of animal matter, and doubtful traces of lime and potash. The subsoil of clay gave only 5.7 per cent. of water, and 5.55 of organic matter. The above analysis was conducted during the rainy month of September, and the sample is an average one of the surface-soil at 6000 to 10,000 feet. There is, I think, little difference anywhere in the soils at this elevation, except where the rock is remarkably micaceous, or where veins of felspathic granite, by their decomposition, give rise to small beds of kaolin. APPENDIX D. (Vol. i., chapter ii.) AN AURORA SEEN FROM BAROON ON THE EAST BANK OF THE S0ANE RIVER. Lat. 24 degrees 52 minutes N.; Long. 84 degrees 22 minutes E.; Alt. 345 feet.