THE KUEAM VALLEY, ETC., AFGHANISTAN. 3 



ance to give a short outline of the geography and general 

 conformation of the country. To secure, therefore, a ready 

 comprehension of the subject, I shall divide the area over which 

 I have botanized into three sections :— The first comprising 

 that portion of the valley of the Kuram river which lies between 

 Thai and Badishkhel ; the second, the left bank of the Kuram 

 from Badishkhel to Pewarkotal ; the third, the basins of the 

 Karaia and Hazardarakht rivers from Pewarkotal to Seratigah. 

 It will be found that these three geographical sections are 

 coincidently three fairly distinct botanical areas, each having a 

 flora more or less peculiar to itself. 



Valley of the Kuram river betioeen Thai and Badishkhel. — The 

 altitude of Thai above the sea-level is 2500 ft., and that of Badish- 

 khel 4000 ft., the distance between the two localities being about 

 50 miles. The road followed runs along the left bank of the 

 river, occasionally, however, crossing spurs of conglomerate. 

 The course of the river from Badishkhel is south, slightly east ; 

 its bed is wide and shallow, in some places being nearly a mile 

 broad ; but at Thai, where the spurs of conglomerate approach 

 on both sides and some igneous rocks also occur, it becomes con- 

 siderably contracted, making it extremely dangerous to ford at 

 any time. 



From Badishkhel to Pewarkotal. — The course of the Kuram 

 river in this district is almost due east, until reaching Badishkhel, 

 where it suddenly bends to the south. On its right bank it is 

 skirted by a set of low hills scarcely reaching 7000 ft. in elevation. 

 The left bank is likewise at first skirted by similar low hills, along 

 which the road runs. The valley on this side becomes gradually 

 more open, owing to the hills of the Safed-Koh range receding, 

 as it were, from the river, leaving extensive open plains, until at 

 length the distance between the hills and the river attains to 

 fully 8 miles at Kuram, widening still more towards the west. 



Kuram is a large village and fortress situated on the left bank 

 of the river, at an altitude of nearly 4800 ft., and is about 20 miles 

 west of Badishkhel. A good view of this part of the country is 

 obtained from the Darwazagai pass, situated 6 miles to the south 

 of Kuram, and at an altitude of nearly 5000 ft. From this point 

 of view the river is seen flowing sluggishly in several channels 

 from west to east, through richly cultivated land watered by ir- 

 rigation. Beyond the cultivation extend vast plains composed 

 of numerous fan-shaped masses intersected by the channels of 



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