SUPERSTITION. COLOCYNTII. 



317 



without even the wooden loaf. He is then said to have disappeared, 

 and is no doubt now enjoying all the pleasures of a Mohammedan 

 paradise. We were detained by strong winds at a small village 

 opposite Paukputtea, which is situated on rather high ground, as far 

 as could be judged from the distance. 



1 '3th. — The cultivation round this village consists of wheat, 

 radishes, a sort of mustard cultivated for its oily seeds, and the 

 Mehta of Hindoostan. Among the fields I picked up a Melilotus, a 

 Melilotoid, and a genuine Medicago, which is also found at Loodia- 

 nah, both these last are wild, and their occurrence is as curious as it 

 is interesting ; the latter being a decidedly boreal form. In connec- 

 tion with these annuals I have to observe, that most flower about 

 January or February, at which time the mornings and nights are 

 the coldest : also observed Lathyrus cultivated, a Chenopodium 

 was also found, Calotropis, a large Saccharoid, Amaranthacese, were 

 the most common plants, Gnaphalium, Lippia ; Purwas, occurs 

 scantily. 



14th. — Detained till 12 p. m. by bad weather. Sissoo not un- 

 common but small, Babool, the true sweet scented sort. The Colo- 

 cynth seen in fruit much like an apple, not ribbed ; it has the usual 

 structure of the order, viz. 3-carpellary with revolute placentae, so 

 much so, that they are placed near the circumference ; seeds very nu- 

 merous, surrounded with pulp, not arillate : no separation taking 

 place ; oval, brown, smooth. In fields here, a wild strong smelling 

 Umbellifera occurs, called Dhunnea, used as a potherb, and esteemed 

 very fragrant by the natives. Besides the absence of an arillus, there 

 is another anomaly about the above Colycynth, which is, that between 

 each placenta a broad partition projects from the wall of the fruit, 

 usually provided with 3-septa, so as to be divided into two chambers, 

 these contain seeds, the funiculi passing completely through them ; 

 seeds are also contained between the outermost septa and the pla- 

 centse themselves. 



Passed two or three villages. The Persian wheels continue in 

 vogue ; their site is always on a sufficiently high and tenacious bank. 

 I observed some wells, communicating with the river by an archway 

 in the bank. Most of the cattle are blinded by the conical blinkers 

 or hoods over the eyes. 



\5th. — Halted at a village partly washed away, surrounded by a 

 good deal of wheat and radish cultivation. The mango tree and 

 Moringa also occur here with the larger Babool, which invariably 



