1849.] Trip to Pind Dadun Khan and the Salt Range* 675 



March 3lst. — Pind Dadud Khan to Choee, 8 kos.~— Crossed the 

 salt range to Choee. On the southern slope of the range the road is most 

 execrable, but on reaching the ridge or highest point at Dundhote, it 

 somewhat improves— the ascents and descents being of less height, and 

 several well cultivated valleys intervening. From Dundhote to Choee 

 the strata seem entirely composed of a siliceous flinty limestone, which 

 by atmospheric influence disintegrates into round boulders, which strew 

 the face of the hills and valleys and render the road very bad for 

 horses or camels. As the traffic between the south and north sides 

 of the range at this point is considerable, it is much to be desired that 

 a road were made on which loaded camels could travel with ease, — a 

 project which we should think could be effected without any great 

 difficulty or expense, from the soft character of the rocks, on the south 

 s ide in particular, where a good road is most required in consequence 

 of the ascent being greatest. All along the southern slope of the 

 range sweet water is abundant, and at Choee a clear running stream 

 commences and continues its course to the famous tank at Kutass. 

 To the N. W. of Choee, about 2 miles, is a hill of considerable height 

 called Kuringuli, on the top of which, in a limestone rock, grains 

 or rather small cubical crystals of Sulphuret of Antimony £* are 

 found, which is considered of very fine quality, and sells at a higher 

 price here than that brought from the northern countries. Kuringuli 

 appears to be based upon the same flinty limestone as extends from 

 Dundhote to Choee, but above it are a series of calcareous sandstones, 

 conglomerates and sandstones of a brownish colour, on which reposes the 

 arenaceous limestone containing the Surma, all these strata appearing 

 to dip towards the plain of Dunni to the N, The Surma occurs in but 

 small quantity and is collected chiefly after rain by the villagers, who 

 find it in the channels made by the water running down the ravines. 

 At the very top of the hill, on its south western escarpment, there seems 

 to have existed a small vein of it, a sort of cave having been excavated 

 in the limestone rock, down the face of which the villagers descend by 

 means of a rope to search for the mineral, in which attempts, two indivi- 

 duals have lost their lives in consequence of the cutting of the rope, 

 by which they had suspended themselves, they having fallen into the 

 valley below, a height of at least 200 feet. From the western side of 



* Sulphuret of Lead, or Galena, (See Report.) 



4 s 2 



