EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS. 



xxix 



The late Dr. Lord also showed himself anxious to assist me in my 

 duties, and very kindly asked me to join the Mission to Toorkistan, 

 so suddenly put an end to by a suspected outbreak in Kohistan. 



" To Captain Macgregor I was under great obligations during the 

 whole time I continued in his district. Through his influence I 

 was enabled to remain at the outer borders of Kafliristan ; and that 

 deservedly warm respect which he was held in by all the chiefs, would, 

 I am confident, have gained me access into Kaffiristan, and towards 

 Cashgur, at any less unsettled period. I have seen Captain Mac- 

 gregor in the closet and in the field, and I cannot sufficiently express 

 the respect with which I have had cause to regard him in both 

 situations. 



" Captain Sanders, of the Bengal Engineers, was always eager to 

 swell my stock of materials, and during periods of occasional indis- 

 position, I relied almost entirely on him. Captain Sanders had also 

 made for me a collection of plants between Candahar and Herat, 

 which, I regret to say, was nearly entirely destroyed in crossing one 

 of the rivers on that route. 



" It is to Dr. Ritchie, of the Bombay Medical Service, the com- 

 panion of the justly celebrated Major Pottinger, during his return 

 from Herat via Jhomunna, that the Botanical collections are mostly 

 indebted. Dr. Ritchie not only placed unreservedly at my disposal 

 a very interesting collection made on that journey, but also a larger 

 one made between Peshbolak and Peshawur. Both these are of 

 considerable value, the one shows that the Affghan forms prevail as 

 far as Herat on both sides of the Paropamisus, the other shows that 

 Afghanistan, even in its hottest parts, has a majority of European 

 forms. To the contents of these collections, notes of the localities 

 are also added, enhancing their value very considerably. I may be 

 excused for adding, that Dr. Ritchie is acquainted with route survey- 

 ing ; in this and his knowledge of Botany, he possesses two valuable 

 requisitions of a traveller. 



" Dr. Grant, of the Bombay Medical Service, formerly in Medical 

 charge of Dr. Lord's Mission, liberally presented me with an excel- 

 lent series of specimens from the valley of Syghan. 



" While I am beyond measure indebted for Zoological collections, 

 to Captain Hay, of the European Regiment." 



