of Soobathoo and Kotgurh. 235 







pression of their petty rulers, can obtain arable lands sufficient 

 for the maintenance of themselves and their families. 



The declivities of the hills and mountains, which are unob- 

 structed by rocks, are very generally cultivated, and are cut 

 and laid out with a considerable deal of labour into ledges or 

 sloping fields, of all shapes and dimensions, but in general 

 having much resemblance to the steps of a ladder placed in an 

 inclined position. These are supported by embankments formed 

 mostly of earth, but sometimes of stone. All flats or pieces 

 of table-land are carefully cultivated. Those on the banks 

 of rivers and streams are planted chiefly with rice, from the 

 convenience of obtaining water for irrigation. The rice crops 

 are most luxuriant, and yield a plentiful return to the farmer. 

 The best rice, which is uncommonly cheap, is reckoned supe- 

 rior to any of a similar kind produced in the plains near this 

 quarter. 



The productions of the country around Soobathoo are very 

 various. The following are the most important : — Indian corn, 

 cotton, opium in a small quantity, rice of several kinds, wheat, 

 jow (barley,) koda or murwa, (Paspalurn scrobiculatum,) va- 

 rious kinds of pulse, the several species of bathoo (Amaranthus 

 anardhana,) oogul (Panicum emarginatum,) kuchalloo, or pi- 

 nalloo (the Jerusalem artichoke, I believe,) kounguee, chesna 

 (Panicum miliaceum,) bujra, ginger, which is a great article of 

 export trade, being much superior to that produced in the 

 plains, and scarcely inferior, in point of size and quality, to 

 that which is grown in China ; tobacco, lustum or garlic, chil- 

 lees or red pepper ; besides a great variety of others, including 

 some common vegetables, which it is hardly necessary to notice, 

 as they differ but little from those raised in the plains of Hin- 

 doostan. 



In regard to fruit trees, there are abundance of apricots, 

 peaches, walnuts, wild pears, raspberries of a purple colour, 

 large and plentiful ; also, thaephul (Amyris heptaphylla,) and 

 a variety of other wild fruits. 



Kotgurh, a small village and military out-post, occupied by 

 a detachment of the 1 st Nusseeree battalion, is situated on the 

 left bank of the Sutliij, in north latitude 31° 19', and east Ion 

 gitude 77° 30'. It lies on the slope of a range, which rises to 



