1849.] Trip to Pind Badud Khan and the Salt Range. 677 



several hundred points, but in no case found it greater than 23 feet, a 

 fact which we think disproves its alledged depth, although we have no 

 doubt that a small fissure exists in the bottom of the tank in the lime- 

 stone rock, by which the superfluous water is carried off to a lower level, 

 there being no apparent exit for the water flowing into it. At pre- 

 sent there is an immense concourse of people at this place, which from 

 its beautiful position in the heart of the hills, is well chosen as a resi- 

 dence for faqueers. 



April 2nd. — Kutass. — Despatched diary to Lahore, and being Sun- 

 day halted. 



April 3rd. — Kutass to Kuhar, 10 kos. — Came unto Kuhar this 

 morning, a distance of about 10 kos. The road leads through a series 

 of valleys between a lower range of hills and about 3 or 4 miles from 

 the high ridge of the range. Towards Kuhar the flinty limestone is 

 here and there capped by calcareous sandstone and conglomerates, which 

 to the north become more and more abundant. Kuhar is situated to 

 the W. of a salt water lake in a valley surrounded by hills composed of 

 strata far superior to those yielding salt, which is excavated about 3 

 miles south from Kuhar at a village called Surdi. This lake is pro- 

 bably identical with the salt lake of the same name laid down in Tassin's 

 map to the south of the salt range. Its water is a perfect brine, but whence 

 the salt is derived could not be ascertained. To the west of the lake the 

 water is sweet and good and in great abundance, issuing from the lime- 

 stone rock in a clear stream behind the village of Kuhar, and flowing to- 

 wards the west, a very small portion of it running into the lake; at the east- 

 ern extremity of which a small burn which drains a valley near the salt 

 depot, and which at the time we passed it was nearly dry, appears to 

 enter. The banks of the lake are covered with a saline incrustation, 

 but I could get no information as to whether salt was deposited from 

 the waters in the lake by evaporation, which must be the case if salt 

 springs still continue to flow into it, a fact which we could not as- 

 certain. 



The surface of the lake is covered with wild fowl which collect in 

 great quantity wherever the smallest stream of fresh water enters, and 

 in the neighbourhood of which their food is probably found. We could 

 not learn that any fish existed in the lake, the banks of which are 

 formed of a soft foeted blue mud covered with a thin sward. Fevers 



