342 



FROM QUETTAH TO KUCIILAK. 



mometer immersed in the fount of a spring gushing out from a 

 Kabreeza, the mean temperature would appear to be 56°. Water 

 running in cuts close to it, was 66°. A Tauschia occurs in abundance 

 near the spot, and is remarkable for illustrating the nature of the 

 leaves of the upper parts ; it is curious that all such have a peculiar 

 aspect. (For other plants of this neighbourhood, see Cat. and Icones.) 



The town although the third in Khorassan, is a miserable place 

 and has a deserted aspect, the houses are of the most temporary con- 

 struction, and the hill is crowned by a poor half-ruined kucha fort ; 

 the gates of the town are ornamented with wild goats' horns and 

 heads. There is no trade, and the place is stated to be plundered 

 often by Caukers. Orchards — apricots of large size, and very large 

 cherry trees, a pomaceous plant with the habit of poplar, occurs ; the 

 Ulmus of this place is one of the largest sized trees ; no walnuts. 



April 6th. — Left Quettah for Kuchlak. We traversed the sandy 

 plain, and then ascended the gravelly slope to the pass tra- 

 versed before reaching Kuchlak, the ascent and descent were about 

 equal, but the former was long and gradual, the latter rapid and 

 short. The features of the country are precisely the same ; the pass 

 is short, the descent to the ravine, which in the rains is evidently a 

 watercourse, short and steep, not 100 feet. The mountains forming 

 the sides are steep ; and those to the left, bold and romantic, with here 

 and there a small tree. The plain of Kuchlak is like that of Quettah, 

 well supplied with water-cuts and one small canal, but miserably culti- 

 vated, and with very few villages. The hills forming its west boun- 

 dary are low, rugged, and curiously variegated with red and white. 

 Tuckatoo forms part of its eastern boundary : no snow is visible on its 

 face towards Kuchlak : a few low rounded hillocks occur in the 

 centre of the valley. The chief vegetation round the camp, is San- 

 tonica. We encamped close to the western boundary of the valley, 

 about two miles from the grand camp : total distance of the march 

 thirteen and a half miles. The climate is very hot and variable ; 

 thermometer ranged to-day from 40° to 86°. 



The chief vegetation of the gravelly slopes is as marked as 

 ever, and differs entirely from that of the sandy tillable portion ; it 

 consists of Centaurea fruticosa, C. spinosa, Anthylloides or Ononoides, 

 Astragalus spinosus, and Staticoides, another thorny Composita oc- 

 curs, but is not common, the herbaceous plants are Cruciferse in large 

 numbers, as well as Compositae ; of Boraginese, a good many, some 

 Labiatse, a large Salvia : towards the tillable lands or where 



