OF THE JHELUM DISTRICT OF THE PUNJAB. 57 
part of the district supplies much of the Punjab. The crops about 
this ravine-country are very much more dependent upon rain than 
those of any other part of the district, from the soil being appa- 
rently quite incapable of retaining moisture. The characteristic 
botany of the ravines themselves is chiefly composed of Nerium 
odorum, Saccharum spontaneum, and Butea frondosa. In the un- 
cultivated parts a very similar jungle to that found on the lower 
ranges of hills exists. 
To the south of the Salt Range we have plains extending to the 
river, which, the further we get westwards from Jelallpore, become 
more saline in their nature, and, except close to the river’s bank, 
with some other exceptional localities, gradually become devoid of 
cultivation, producing a jungle of Tamarix, Salvadora, Prosopis, 
Capparis, Sueda, Anabasis, &c. Where the soil is becoming highly 
charged with saline matter, amongst the most characteristic signs 
is the change of ZEluropus repens for Cynodon Dactylon and the 
profusion of Cressa Cretica. . 
From Jelallpore towards Pind-dadan Khan the exception is to 
have soil incapable of cultivation, and what is cultivated is rich, 
producing fine crops, including sugar-cane as a field crop; this 
is not producible in any other part of the district. Besides, 
the soil, from its less elevation above the river, is very much 
moister, and, as a proof of this, rice is raised in some spots. Trees 
are plentiful and produce good timber ; the Cypress variety of the 
Acacia Arabica is very characteristic. 
Passing from Pind-dadan Khan westwards we very quickly come 
upon a country the greater part of the soil of which is incapable 
of cultivation, and is covered by a jungle of shrubs,—the portion 
that is cultivable being a narrow strip on the river’s bank, 
which yields fair crops, with some timber, chiefly of Acacia Ara- 
bica and Zizyphus Jujuba, as also groves of Date-palms. This 
arable part is called the Kachi, and the part that is unfit for cul- 
tivation and covered with jungle, the Bar. In short, we have 
here a similar state of things to that met with in the Dooabs. 
The Salt Range, from its elevation, has a very interesting flora. 
Besides the ridges of hills and valleys of which it is chiefly formed, 
it has, running through it, extensive plains of tableland which 
produce fine crops of wheat, greatly dependent, however, upon 
rain. On the occurrence of a dry season a complete destruction 
of the crops takes place. The ridges themselves are covered with 
a thickly wooded jungle of the Olive, Dodonea, Buxus, as well as of 
the vegetation which occurs on the low ranges of hills. 
