THE KUBAM VALLEY, ETC., AFGHANISTAN. 15 



exposures. There is little or no undergrowth; if any, it con- 

 sists of Quercus Ilex, or more generally of Q. semecarpifolia, with 

 occasional shrubs of Sophora, Daphne, and Cotoneaster. The 

 drainage from the west of the Pewarkotal, as previously men- 

 tioned, falls into and forms the Karaia river, so that the Hariab 

 district is now entered upon. To the north, between the Spin- 

 ghaokotal and the Pewar, the ridges of the hills are found to be 

 separated by small meadows resembling in miniature the " rnergs " 

 of Kashmir. These are covered with a thick close sward consist- 

 ing chiefly of Oymnandra stolonifera and Cousinia racemosa, which 

 latter seems to be kept down to this tufted form by the grazing 

 of sheep. Here early in the season, from under the melting snow, 

 Merendera persica grows plentifully. On the left bank of the 

 Karaia river there is little or no cultivation ; on the right bank, 

 however, there is a considerable amount, owing to the country 

 being much more open, consisting of a numerous succession of 

 plateaux. 



10. Vegetation of the Hariab District. 



The climate of the Hariab district, owing to its altitude, is much 

 colder and drier than that of the Kuram, with a more severe 

 winter. The land produces but one crop during the year, viz . 

 of wheat, barley, maize, rice, two millets (Setaria italica, Panicum 

 miliaceum), pulses (Ervum Ervilea,Phaseolus vulgaris, Glycine Soj a), 

 carrots, and clover (Trifolium resupinatum), a few of the Cucurbi- 

 taceae, and a little tobacco. .Near villages are orchards of apricot, 

 plum, and apple, with a few walnut-trees. Gardens are unknown ; 

 hence there are no vegetables. The palm, Celtis, Diospyros, and 

 vine do not grow at this altitude ; but occasionally a few mulberry- 

 trees of no great size are to be seen. Cultivated along water- 

 courses for their protection, Salix sp. near sericocarpa, Anders., a 

 large tree with weeping branches ; S. sp., a small tree or large 

 bush ; and S. angustifolia. The two latter are also quite wild in 

 the streams which run down from the hills, but not so in the open 

 river-bed. Along with these Populus nigra, var., is by no means 

 uncommon, cultivated, and perhaps wild. Near villages hedges 

 are common of Elceagnus, Rosa anserineefolia, B. Eglanteria, 

 B. canina, and more rarely of Hippophae : climbing over them 

 one very frequently meets Bryonia dioica, a western form which 

 extends as far east as Lahul in the Himalaya. 



On the outskirts of villages, Hyoscyamus niger, Conium macula- 



