FIELD NOTES WITH THE CHITRAL RELIEF FORCE, 05 



were the commonest birds to be seen, though, of coursej those camp- 

 followers, the Egyptian vulture and the common kite, were fairly 

 numerous. I found a nest of the wire-tailed swallow in the fort at 

 Mundia containing four ego-g hard set. 



The road from Mundah to Kanbat at the foot of the hills is more or less 

 uninteresting. Passing through open country and crossing the Jandoul 

 River several times, I noticed here the imperial eagle. On the top of 

 the Janbatai Pass, 7,400 feet, we first came across the lammergeyer, 

 which was to be seen sailing over the tops of the hills covered here and 

 there with snow. The north side of this pass is covered with pines, deo- 

 dars, walnuts, horse-chestnuts and the holly before mentioned. There 

 were a couple of peregrine falcons hunting the side of the hill as we 

 descended. There is good water about 100 yards below the summit and 

 a camping ground on the very top, though of limited dimensions. The 

 common red- start was to be seen here, as well as a bunting of some 

 sort which I could not identify. The Baraul Valley from Janbatai 

 down to Chutiatan is covered with walnuts, mulberry, pear and peach 

 trees, and with wild raspberries and currants growing here and there. 

 Wild violets and strawberries were common, while in some parts the 

 ground was covered with a pink and white crocus. Pink and white 

 mar was also to be seen. To the south of Baraul Bandai is the 

 Kargossa Pass, about 8,450 feet, and I was informed by the natives that 

 on the hills surrounding the pass there were to be found bear (black 

 probably), thar, apparently, (they described it as a large deer with 

 horns), and the musk-deer. When the stream clears, there is probably 

 fair fishing in the Baraul River, though I doubt whether you would 

 ever get a fish over, say, 10 lbs. As it is not a big stream, the snow 

 trout is caught in large numbers running from 3 lbs. to a few ouncesj 

 mostly about \ lb. In the higher part of the Baraul nullah there is 

 wheat cultivation, but as we approach the Panjkora River the hills 

 come straight down to the water, and the river becomes faster and 

 more rocky. At this point the road turns north up the Dir Valley, 

 and at six miles from Chutiatan the Fort of Dir is reached. Here we 

 were encamped some time, and the only amusement was catching- 

 trout in the Dir stream, which is very rapid and comes down from the 

 Lowarai Pass. These fish seem to be the ordinary Himalayan or 

 snow-trout, and, as before said, run up to about 3 lbs., though such a tish 



