DAI HAP TO KIIOSIIAB. 



349 



and yet the former does not indicate water as it ought to do, Lycium, 

 Tamarisk, Arundo on the banks of the river, and Tamarisk in pro- 

 fusion in its bed. 



The cultivation on the opposite side of the river is remarkably clear of 

 weeds, as compared with the cultivation at Quettah, etc. Achilleoides, 

 Veronica, Iris crocifolia, Phalaris, Chenopodium, Rottboellioides, 

 Hordeum vulgare, being the only or the chief plants cultivated. 



Proceeded next to Dai Hap, thirteen miles, over a similar but even 

 more barren country, the hills being destitute of all vegetation, 

 except a few stunted small shrubs, such as Statice. The usual plants 

 recur with shingle and in sand, the chief is a Santonica * a few novel- 

 ties occurred, among which is a curious plant, with large vesiculate 

 petaloid connectiva. See Catalogue, No. 576, et sequent. 



The hills continue with toothed ridges, near Dai Hap, where water 

 is abundant, but not in the form of a river. Thymelsea occurs in 

 abundance, with a Mimosea fruticosa humilis : a curious hairy-fruited 

 Polygonum et Peganum, is among the most common plants. 



25th. — To Khoshab, distance twelves miles, over a large level 

 plain, either sandy, and then generally cultivated, or gravelly, 

 and then uncultivated : road open : passed two dry beds of rivers : one 

 must be of large size, but is very shallow. A new Tamarisk occurs 

 along it ; no trees are visible until we approach Candahar : vegetation 

 continues much the same. Santonica* Centaurea spinosa, Astragalina 

 (Ononoides recurs), Staticoid, Asphodelus, Mesembryanthoid, Pega- 

 num, are the chief plants, especially on gravel ; most of the small Cruci- 

 ferse have disappeared, Labiata-Salvioides continues ; a curious suba- 

 phyllous Composita occurs, Iris persica is not uncommon ; another 

 Iris is found here and there in profusion, with Gnidia in sandy spots, 

 Composita?, Monocotyledons of Abigoon are common in shingle. 

 New rock pigeons. Fine madder cultivation in khets. Of birds the 

 yellow hammer occurs. Villages numerous, poor, and though built 

 of mud and straw yet present abundance of small domes. 



In these dry hot plains the prevailing wind is westerly, blowing very 

 strong in the heat of the day, and having a tendency to become hot : 

 the thermometer is here 98°. The cultivation of wheat is very gene- 

 ral around our present encampment which is within four miles of 

 Candahar, the wheat is fine ; Lolioides occurs in it. 



* Referred to by the Author as an Anthermdioid, and on one occasion as Santo- 

 nica achilleoidea. 



