KHILAT-I-GILZEE, 



363 



Nothing can exceed the barren aspect of this valley, which is near 

 Khet-i-Ahkoond, but at several miles distance, a few trees are visible 

 in nooks : the only green along the banks of the river, is occasioned 

 apparently by Tamarisk : the hills are picturesque, rugged, varied 

 with bold cliffs, the valleys are changed in structure, being now 

 occupied by rounded undulated ground, instead of hollow basins. 



, undulated . . • 



• • • • healthy ground. . . ■ 



the Turnuk. 



July 1st. — Proceeded ten miles, and halted on the Turnuk within 

 one mile of the tower of Tirandaz. The country continues precisely 

 the same : the road at first is bad, owing to the inhabitants having 

 tried to flood it. At a distance of six miles we ascended a small defile 

 without any difficulty ; the remainder of the march being over undu- 

 lating stony ground : the valley then becomes narrow, and we again 

 enter into the arable part, which is especially narrow. The hills 

 present the same aspect. Joussa very abundant, and also Artemisia, 

 and a Salsoloides flore ochroleuco. No villages are visible. We are 

 unable to judge of the extent of cultivation, because the country, 

 which seems uniformly dried up, is rugged and bouldery : on the right 

 is the old bed of the river, consisting of dry sand. We crossed one 

 small nullah, when an old fort became visible on a hill, in the centre 

 of the valley. 



2nd. — Proceeded to Toot, a distance of eleven miles, through a 

 similar country ; the road dividing at the low hills approaching the 

 river and forming its banks, which are in places precipitous ; the 

 greater part of the difficulties were avoided by taking the lower 

 route, that along the hills being impassable for guns owing to the 

 large rocks scattered in every direction, and detached from conglo- 

 merate hills. Two or three nullahs were passed, one with a little 

 water. The ground was besides a good deal cut up towards the 

 centre of the valley, and a water-cut was crossed several times. 

 Owing to the delay in making the road, the troops did not reach the 

 encamping ground before 8 or 8£ p. m., the camels in some instances 



