348 



POOTOOLLAIl TO MAILMANDAH. 



in the centre as if there had been a watercourse there. Vegetation 

 continues the same. The Thymelseous shrub and Iris, still occur in 

 sandy spots, Allium and a second species ; Centaureoides, yellow 

 and pink, Thesioides, a curious sand-binding grass, Salsola tertia 

 most common, and in some open firm places Joussa reappears as 

 it did at Dund-i-Golai : Anthemis occurs, Rheas, Salvioides in stony 

 places, otherwise few of the plants of the Pisheen side are seen ; 

 grapes abundant about old and new cultivation, Hordeum, Bromus 

 several species, Triticoides, etc., in profusion. Passed a deep well 

 of considerable diameter, which had an open communication with a 

 widish and deep canal, the only place I have seen that would hold 

 a good deal of water ; it was cut throughout in shingle, and was 

 perhaps fifty feet in its deepest part. 



22nd. — Left Pootoollah for Mailmandah, and on our arrival found 

 some of the troops and the cavalry had passed through and made a 

 double march to the river Lora, a distance in all of twenty-four miles. 

 There is a good deal of pure water at Mailmandah running in a cut by 

 the side of that, which is in the rains a considerable stream, also one 

 or two Kabreezes about two miles further on, producing excellent 

 water. The road first led up a ravine of some width, and swardy, 

 and then over low hills, until we surmounted these to descend into 

 the valley in which part of the army halted. The country continues 

 mostly the same ; although if possible it is still more barren than 

 before : the mountains generally are more rugged : the ridges 

 frequently toothed, and the sides precipitous ; not a tree to be seen, 

 except a willow near some water, and a small arbusculoid fig. After 

 passing the halting place we re- ascended an inclined plane, entered a 

 gorge, and again issued out of it : after a short time again we entered 

 into another valley drained by an actual river, really containing water, 

 and bounded to the west and north-west by curious red low hills, 

 not unlike an embankment. The vegetation continues much the 

 same : Salsola tertia very common in some sandy places, Centaurea 

 spinosa, Statice, Santonica, etc. re-assuming their places on all gravelly 

 slopes : some novelties occurred as (See Catalogue, Nos. 543 to 574 

 inclusive,) one or two new shrubs, Cytisus, etc. The heat continues 

 great ; 102° Fahr. in tents in the middle of the day. We encamped 

 on a flat ground about 200 yards from the river, which contains a 

 good deal of water, and has a sluggish stream running to the north, 

 surrounded by mountains, none of any height. Wheat cultivation, 

 Arundo, Vitex, Prunus or Cerasus abundant in the pass to the river, 



