GODWIJf-ATJSTEN KASHMEEE. 



225 



are small villages buried in walnut, apple, pear, and cherry trees ; 

 the first of these becomes a magnificent tree here. 



West Watershed of Kashmere, at the Kukur-gulli. — Another day 

 my work lay along a high ridge of the " alluvium " rising from 200 to 

 300 feet above the river. The alluvial accumulation rests on the 

 limestone, and the river (Kahmil) has cut through the whole thick- 

 ness of the alluvium, and as much as from 30 to 40 feet into the 

 limestone beneath. 



The " alluvium " here consists of rocks of aU descriptions, derived 

 from the higher range, and amongst them are a few blocks of gra- 

 nite ; all are water- worn, more or less. The same formation occurs 

 lower down (about IJ mile), where the river, after passing through 

 a very narrow gorge, debouches into the plain ; thence the bank 

 of alluvium runs perfectly straight for 3 miles, rising from the 

 plain as much as 100 feet. At the edge, near the top, there is a 

 regular roadway, about 30 yards in breadth ; then another rise of 

 about 20 feet, with a perfectly level plain at the top, — ^the bed of the 

 lake which, there is no doubt, at one time occupied the whole valley 

 of Kashmere. 



Fig. 5. — Plan of the Terraces in the Valley of the Kahmil. 



Fig. 5 is a bird's-eye view of these terraces, as seen looking down 

 the river towards Shaloorah. The Hod Eiver joins the Kahmil in a 

 like depression. I have not exaggerated the straightness of the 

 edge of the bank in the least. The roadway (or upper terrace) was 

 not broken down for the whole distance. The valley has evidently 

 been lowered at several successive stages, and at each level the 

 breadth of the water has been less. 



On the Kukur, I found a snail {Helix) such as I had never seen, 

 and the only one in fact which I have ever met with on these hills. 

 I have preserved it for transmission home with the plants. These 

 animals must be rare in the higher ranges, or I must have observed 

 them. I may also mention, that in aU my wanderings amongst the 



