ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY. 



327 



nice grove of Furas, situated on the dry river Naree, which is as 

 contemptible in size as deficient in water, this is only procurable 

 by digging wells of thirty feet deep, and even then in small quan- 

 tity. Before reaching it, we passed several villages, mostly deserted 

 and ruined. 



The country is frightfully bare of wood : the chief plant is Chenopo- 

 dium cymbifolium, and along the canal lemon grass, Kureel, Rairoo, 

 Joussa, Ukko, Bheir, etc.; near Meerpore aCentaurea, andEvolvulus 

 acanthaceus. But along the nullah some wood may be found, stunted 

 though it be, it is chiefly Rairoo. We left Meerpore and proceeded 

 about one and a half mile from Joke, following the nullah until 

 we came on a canal in which, from a bund having been thrown 

 across, there was a puddle or two of water. Here we halted. Much 

 remains of cultivation is presented about this, chiefly Bagree, which is 

 perennial. Durand tells me that the sprouts of the second year are 

 poisonous to cattle, i. e. horses ; but this report may have been given 

 out purposely by the natives. Along the river, J how and Furas 

 occur, in the naked plains, Chenopodium cymbifolium, Rairoo, and a 

 few Kureel, but they are so naked as to afford little fodder for the 

 camels : there is a little cultivation of mustard, and Taira meera. 

 The hills are about twenty miles off, and appear about 4,000 feet 

 high, they are precipitous, but the outline is not rugged : they appear 

 perfectly barren. Those to the north which run nearly east and west 

 are more distant. No new birds were seen ; rock pigeons occur. The 

 soil would be rich if water were abundant : in the Bagree fields it is of 

 a cloddy kind. 



Reseda, Euphorbia, Salsola lanata, Chenopodium cymbifolium, 

 Evolvulus, Panicum, and Andropogon occur here. Jowaree sells at 

 twelve seers a rupee, and Khurbee is very dear. A large plain occurs 

 here covered with Gramen Panicum, which is in tufts, and has the 

 appearance of being cultivated. 



27M. — Halted at our camp near Joke. The Naree runs one and a 

 half mile to the westward : its bed is fifty yards wide and about ten feet 

 deep ; the banks are well clothed with Furas. There is a good deal 

 of Bagree cultivation. 



, 28th. — To Oostadkote, nine and a half miles. The road is not a 

 made one for the latter one-third. Crossed the Naree about two miles 

 from our encampment : the country appeared the same On arriving 

 near our halting place, green wheat fields, intermixed with much 

 fresh Chenopodium, Gramen Panicum, Reseda were most abundant, 



