1843.] of the Punjaub and part of Afghanistan. 195 



we pass over vast uncultivated tracts, with here and there in the centre 

 of the bushy jungle a small village, with some rich cultivated fields 

 around ; now and then breaking up the monotony of the flat plain, we 

 meet with the hillocks marking the sites of towns and villages which are 

 now no more ; but of which the streets and houses have left this memento 

 of their former existence ; or deep ravines, the haunts of the wolf and 

 the jackal. Bands of sand traverse the country in a N. and S. direc- 

 tion, which point out the old beds of rivers, and prove that all of them 

 have been changed. Thus the Sutledge, which formerly ran close to the 

 town of Loodianah, is now seven miles to the northward ; the Ravee 

 which twenty years ago washed the walls of the city of Lahore, runs in 

 a channel three miles off to the northward ; the Chunab which ten or 

 twelve years ago ran close to the town of Ramnuggur, is now four miles 

 distant ; and the same applies to the Jehlum. These changes also are 

 striking in the Indus, where it leaves its mountain channel at Kalabagh. 

 Kunkur, a compact marl, formed no doubt from the deposition of 

 springs that formerly existed, is frequently to be found, forming beds, &c. 

 in the clayey soil. But till we reach Jalalpore, we do not meet with any 

 other rock in situ. 



Soils. — The soil varies in a remarkable degree from stiff clay to sand, 

 mixed with each other in variable proportions and with vegetable mat- 

 ter. Between Jalalpore and Pind Dadur Khan, it consists of a black 

 rich loam, and is probably the finest we saw in the Punjaub. Mixed 

 up with the soils, carbonate and sulphate of soda are frequently met 

 with, and if in quantity the land is not worth cultivating. Several 

 large tracts are in this manner rendered barren, particularly on the 

 West side of the Indus in proceeding to Peshawur. 



Salt Range. — From Jalalpore, the salt range extends in a $J. W. by 

 W. direction on to Maree on the Indus, when it crosses the river, and 

 can be traced from thence onwards to the Khybur or Teera mountains. 

 From it various secondary branches proceed, as one to the N., where it 

 is met with in the neighbourhood of Rotas, and on which the fort 

 of that name is built, forming the Tillah hills of Elphinstone ; it extends 

 for a short distance Northward, and probably then makes a bend to the 

 Eastward. All these ranges join the low group of hills to the North- 

 east, but none of them cross the Jelum below the town of Jelum. 

 These, however, cross there and run on by Bimber, Jummoo, Nurpoor, 



