FIELD NOTES WITH THE CHITRAL RELIEF FORCE. 67 



is reached on the Kunar or Chitral River. The road here turns 

 north-east and keeps along the cliffs high above the Chitral River 

 until we come to Killa Darosh about fourteen miles from Ashreth. The 

 Kunar is a very rapid and deep river ; there were two bridges over it 

 but they were both destroyed by Umra Khan. There seemed to be 

 some grand runs in it, but it is probably clear for only a short time in 

 the year. When we saw it about the middle of May, it was a dark slate 

 colour. The birds noticed on this march were the kestrel, cuckoo, 

 chikor, rock pipit, large verditer fly-catcher, pied and grey wagtail, 

 blue rock-pigeon, red-backed shrikes, crow, raven, and golden oriole ; 

 the last very common. In one tree I saw no less than five birds. 

 On this march I saw an albino blue rock ; it was almost white with the 

 blue bars on its wings clearly marked .; it passed close below me and I 

 could see it very clearly. Killa Darosh is a rather pretty little village 

 almost hidden in walnut and mulberry trees, the latter, two sorts — the 

 white and red — being ripe, abundant ; beautiful water coming from 

 streams in the hills. Beyond Killa Darosh, which is twenty-six miles 

 from Chitral, I did not go ; but I am told that about Chitral there 

 are oorial and on the hills markhor. I forgot to mention that on a 

 tomb at Ziarat there were several markhors' heads ; they are of the 

 Kashmir variety ; the biggest was, I believe, 50", but I did not measure 

 it I there was also a pair of horns at Ashreth, probably about 40". 



