1865.] Tlie Vegetation of the Islands of the Indus River. 55 



whilst stacked, its collection for the supply of the steamers is 

 prohibited. 



For the reasons given against, its being stored for fuel,; its timber- 

 is likewise not used by the natives for any purpose whatever, when 

 other can be obtained. 



The fruit, however, called in Scindee " Singhar," is considered an 

 excellent vegetable, and is largely eaten by the natives in their thwr~ 

 karies. 



Populus Euphratica, ' Bahn' (Scindee and Eunjabee,) grows in great 

 abundance on the Balaas, but more especially about a hundred miles 

 above Kotree. It is a rapidly growing tree, producing very fair 

 timber, with a white light wood, very useful for furniture and house- 

 hold-work of a light nature, but which does not. stand mueh • strain. 

 It is a very dangerous article as fuel in steamers, or when used for 

 the railway, as the wood, owing to its lightness, flies up through the 

 flue when only half burnt. The officers commanding the steamers 

 are very careful that none is ever taken on board, even by mistake, 

 from the danger attendant on its use. 



The timber for furniture costs about 5 annas a cubic foot. 



Tamarix Indica } ' Laee' (Scindee,) ' Jhao' (Hind.) ' Furash' (Pun- 

 jabee). 



This may be considered as the chief source of firewood from 

 Mooltan to Kotree. It grows in immense quantities, but above 

 the union of the five rivers with the Indus, it becomes gradually 

 replaced on the Balaa land by the T. dioica and it becomes more 

 abundant on the mainland, where we find the T. orientalis also 

 occurring, but as a very much larger tree. These were all in 

 blossom in September, presenting a very heath-like appearance just 

 before the flowers expanded. The T. Indica like all its congeners, 

 grows very rapidly, producing in three or four years a deep red 

 wood, very much like the Beef wood of, Australia. At this age 

 it is best for fuel : the white and young wood makes but poor fuel, and 

 is also rapidly destroyed by the white ant ; whereas the red wood 

 may lie for nearly four years without injury ; but as it becomes 

 completely dried and aged, it becomes more liable to the attacks of 

 these insects. The cost of this wood at the river stations is 

 15 Rupees for 100 niaunds. 



