VALLEY OF THE SOANE. 85 
I walked aeross (except the watery bit) observing the sand-waves, 
all ranged in one direction, perpendicular to that of the prevailing 
wind, accurately representing the undulations of the ocean, as seen from 
a mast-head or high cliff. As the sand was finer or coarser, so did the 
surface resemble a rippling bay, or an ocean-swell The progressive 
motion of the waves was curious, and caused by the lighter particles 
being blown over the ridges and filling up the hollow to lee-ward. 
There were a few islets in the sand, a kind of Oases of laminated 
mud and clay, the lamine no thicker than paper. These were at once 
denizened by the Calotropis, Argemone, Tamariz, Gnaphalium luteo- 
album and two other species, a Dock, a Cyperus, and Saccharum. Some 
large spots were green with Wheat and Barley-crops, both suffering . 
grievously from the smut. 
The village of Dearee is close to the shore where we encamped : it 
also marks the termination of the Vindhya hills, here called. Kymaor, 
along whose S.E. bases our course now lies, leaving the grand trunk- 
road for a seldom visited country. 
Feb. 16th.—Marched (south) up the Soane to the village of Tilotho, a 
most lovely spot, about five miles from the foot of the hills, and 
situated in a superb grove or tope of Mango, Banyan, Peepul, Tama- 
rind, and Bassia. There are also various tombs and temples in the 
grove, close to one of which we encamped. The country is rich, and 
well-cultivated with Wheat, Barley, and Oats (all much diseased), 
Indigo, Cotton, Sugar-Cane, Carthamus, Poppy, Gram (Ervum Lens), 
Dhal ( Cajana), Tares and Vetch, and Castor-oil. Mahoua yields gum 
copiously. The Zizyphi are large, twelve to fifteen feet high, forming 
round bushes. Cuscuta throws a gamboge-yellow web over the tallest 
trees, and a beautiful purple-flowered Capparis sprawls on the hedges. 
A large Saccharum forms immense tufts, now past flower: its culms 
are used for various purposes (I have specimens of manufacture), 
especially for fans to winnow the Indigo seeds. The Phamnix or Toddy 
Palm and Borassus are very abundant and tall: all have a pot hung 
under the crown. The natives climb these trunks with a hoop or cord 
round the body and both ancles, and a bottle-gourd or other vessel 
hanging round the neck to receive the juice from the stock-bottle, in this 
aerial wine-cellar. So lofty were these Palms, that the climbers, as they 
paused in their ascent to gaze with wonder at our large retinue, resem- 
