TO UR. R. WIGHT. 



as the destributiou of vegetables, the changes induced by cultiva- 

 tion, etc. etc. 



Kudjahur, June lith 1840. 



Your letter and its enclosure reached me when I was labouring 

 under severe fever, which lasted about twenty days ; since that time 

 I have been convalescent ; but somehow or other think I am getting 

 strength slowly. I still hope to be in Cabul by the 10th July, 

 from thence I start for the loftiest pass, that called the Hindoo 

 Koosh, from which the chain has taken its name, I am now at Kud- 

 jah, which is a temporary encampment to escape the great heat of 

 Julalabad ; it is a pretty and a curious place, within twelve miles of 

 the outer ranges of the great snowy range, bounding to the south 

 the valley of Julalabad, but stretching east and west far beyond 

 the limits of the valley itself. J ust imagine a space between two 

 ranges of mountains, from 15 to 20 miles broad, occupied by un- 

 dulating hills or flat elevated masses of a conglomeration of stones 

 and rocky masses of all sorts and sizes. Then of course, these 

 stoney portions are intersected by torrent flowing from the Suffaid 

 Koh, which have excavated valleys of various sizes and depth, — 

 and which are really, considering the sombre mountainous colour- 

 ing of the chief tree, the mulberry, very pretty. The vegetation 

 is entirely European, height said to be 4,000 ft. Can you tell me, 

 whether any book or paper has ever been published on the Persian 

 Flora. Talk of an Asiatic Province comprehending Asia from 

 near Asia Minor, why here is an European Flora in the nintyeth de- 

 gree east Longitude, and one which extends no doubt to that chain 

 of mountains, so little known, forming the northern boundary of this 

 country, and probably the true continuation of the Himalayas. Fan- 

 cy existance bene of Glycyrrhiza, Silenes, Dianthi and Eryngium. 

 This flora can never be investigated except by taking the mate- 

 rials with me to Europe, which I hope to do in 1842, for I have 

 little to hope for after Lord As* departure. I have come to the 

 conclusion that Stellatse have nothing to do whatever with Rubia 

 Cinchonaceoe, in as much as they are apetalous. Such monstrous 



