THE AFGHAN DELIMITATION COMMISSION. 21 
irrigation-works were constantly coming under our notice—indications of a bygone 
period when the country was inhabited by a vast and energetic population. Near 
water several tamarisks were common, and associated with them Apocynum venetum was 
abundant. This plant I first saw in winter, when it was leafless, showing a thicket of 
the annual shoots of several years’ growth; but what attracted my particular attention 
to it were the heaps of naturally removed fibre lying at their roots. They still bore fruit, 
some of which, with cuttings from the last year's stems and a large bundle of fibre, I 
despatched to Kew; and living roots I sent to Seharanpore. From the fine quality of 
the fibre, and hearing that the natives employed it in the manufacture of cloth, I thought 
it worthy of special attention. 
In the valleys of the dunes, where there is some local non-saline moisture, there were 
immense beds of underscrub, formed by a robust, tall, perennial, Codonocephalum 
Peacockianum, a new species of a previously monotypic genus, which grew to a height of 
about five feet; and a similar underserub consisting solely of Gundelia Tournefortii, 
remarkable for the large spinous involucre surrounding the flower-heads. These plants 
extended for miles, looking at a distance like cultivated fields, but on a closer inspection 
proving to be dense thickets almost impassable by man on foot, and providing admirable 
cover for pigs, tiger, and other game. Strange to say, this luxuriant growth had totally 
disappeared by the beginning of winter, the decay of which no doubt accounts for the 
large amount of rich mould in various parts of the Badghis. 
On the gravelly soil and rock formation Amygdalus eburnea was very luxuriant, form- 
ing a shrub from two to six feet in height, and presenting a beautiful sight when in 
full blossom. There were also many Astragali, several of which are regarded as new; 
Onobrychis, the superb Lathyrus subvillosus in dense clumps and well worthy of the horti- 
eulturist's attention; Moathiola albicaulis, having a very handsome flowering stem two to 
three feet in height, usually with rather dull-coloured purplish flowers, but sometimes 
pure white or greenish; several Statice with showy flowers; Crambe cordifolia very 
plentiful, with ample foliage and inflorescence, with sweetly scented flowers; Thalictrum, 
Conringia, Galium, Arum, diffuse at the roots of tamarisk and berberry bushes ; 
Eremostachys diversifolia with splendid flowers and curiously knotted roots; numerous 
species of Allium, the variety Charlesii of Geranium tuberosum, having spheroidal 
superposed tubers; Anemone biflora, Thalictrum isopyroides, several splendid Eremuri, 
and the new Iris Fosteriana. Up to the altitude of 3000 feet there are few shrubs 
and no trees, unless the formation consists of sandstone rock, where there are forests 
of Pistacia vera, which were first encountered on our march between Karez-darra and 
Padda, subsequently near Gulran and again at Karez-Ilias, where a portion of the country, 
owing to the prevalence of this tree, goes by the name of Pistalik. The tree has little 
or no main trunk, and branches freely from the base. During winter, when leafless and 
seen along the edge of the cliffs against the sky, the peculiar grey colouring of its bark 
gives one the impression of smoke. We saw occasional clumps of it all along our route 
through the Badghis. Тһе pistacio nut is an article of considerable commercial 
importance, being largely exported to India from these very forests; and the wood is 
the most valuable for fuel of any found in the country. At the foot of the same rocks, 
