1841.] Report on subjects connected with Afghanistan. 991 



from the injuries of rain. If introduction into the Himalayas be 

 deemed desirable, Cabul should be the place of supply, unless there 

 is some unexpected affinity between the amount of solar heat of the 

 spring months these mountains enjoy and that of Candahar. And 

 perhaps attention should be chiefly directed to those fruits that are 

 in full season before the middle of June. 



General Mature of Afghan Vegetation. — Before entering on a few 

 brief notices of those vegetable productions which are not cultivated, 

 but which administer to the wants of the people, it may be as well to 

 premise a few popular remarks on the general nature of the Afghan 

 vegetation. No parallel can be drawn between the Afghan Flora 

 and that of India in any part ; for even in the lower parts of the coun- 

 try, but very little elevated above the general level of our extreme N. 

 W. Provinces, the Flora of Afghanistan is decidedly peculiar. 



hine of transition from Indian to Afghan Vegetation, — The transi- 

 tion commences, as may be said, along the Sutlege : on the Ferozepoor 

 route it is gradual, on that of Shikarpore it is much more abrupt. 

 At Peshawur, which is in north latitude 34°, and about 1200 

 feet above the sea, it is tolerably mature, still there is an inter- 

 mingling of Indian species, and this continues, gradually becoming 

 less, until one ascends to Gundamuk. 



In Kutch Gundava, the Indian forms are less frequent ; indeed 

 it may be said that by the Ferozepoor route the Indian species en- 

 croach on the Afghan territory ; in Kutch Gundava the Afghan 

 species encroach on the Indian territory. 



The Afghan transitionary forms are various : Boraginese, Reseda, 

 Chenopodise, Bertholletia, Farselia, Medicago, Butomus, Peganum 

 Harmali, Nerium oleander, Alhagi Marorum } The Indian transi- 

 tionary forms consist of Calotropis procera, certain Amaranthacese and 

 Chenopodise, certain Saccharineous and Paniceous grasses. Acacia, 

 Arabica, and pudica, Prosopis spicigera and Dalbergia Sissoo. 



Proper comparison only with the Flora of the Levant, S^x. — To 

 gain a just idea of the Afghan Flora, we must compare it with that 

 of the Levant, and perhaps with the greater part of the basin of 

 the Mediterranean, with which it may be said to correspond in 

 latitude. With the general Flora of Persia it may be regarded as con- 

 tinuous. 



