1853.] Report on the Geological Structure of the Salt Range. 237 



nent streams. During rain, the drainage into it from the G-umun- 

 dra, Putial and Kurrung ridges, which surround it, must be very- 

 considerable, and the boulders in several nullahs which enter its 

 eastern extremity, mark the force of the floods which it at times 

 receives. There appears no exit for the waters of the lake, which 

 by solar evaporation must be kept within due bounds. All the hills 

 by which it is surrounded are composed of limestone, and hence it 

 is probable that salt springs enter it from below. Its water is a 

 strong brine, and a thick saline incrustation covers its banks. 



South of the salt lake, in the hills between Kufree and Vurcha, 

 and about four miles from the former, is a fresh-water lake of consi- 

 derable depth called Julhur Kuhar ( Julhur, Sanscrit, a spring of fresh 

 water), about three quarters of a mile long by about half-a-mile broad. 

 It is most picturesquely situated at the foot of a limestone escarp- 

 ment, and receives the drainage of the limestone hills around and of 

 the small valley at the west end of which it is placed. We believe 

 we were the first Europeans who had ever visited it, and were not 

 aware of its existence till we stumbled upon it accidentally. The 

 pleasure of beholding such a sheet of fresh water cannot be appre- 

 ciated to its full extent but in the midst of hills like the Salt Eange, 

 where fresh water is no where abundant, and clean water is a scarce 

 luxury. 



The vegetation in the central and northern districts of the Eange 

 presents a striking difference to that on its south side, but though 

 the hills attain to a considerable height, there is nothing to indicate 

 an approach to an Alpine flora. The want of any of the ordinary 

 trees characteristic of the Sub-Himalayan ranges of elevations from 

 two to five thousand feet is very remarkable, and with the exception 

 of a few stunted Hyperanthera and semul trees (Bombax hepta- 

 phyllum), whose large scarlet flowers appear in the months of Feb- 

 ruary and March, nothing deserving the name of a tree is to be seen 

 on the Salt Eange from the Jhelum to the Indus. This we conceive 

 is to be attributed entirely to the general absence of soil on the 

 surface of the limestone rock of the district, the debris of which 

 seems all to be washed into the valleys, where it forms a productive 

 soil. But although trees are deficient, the hills of the central dis- 

 trict present a green and refreshing aspect, being generally covered 



2 H 



