364 



KH ILAT- I-GILZEE. 



not before 12 p. m. An attack is reported to have been made on the 

 baggage at the river where the road ascends the cliff : it was pre- 

 vented by a party of the 13th, who shot two of the marauders. Joussa 

 is plentiful, and Mentha in flower. 



The Turnuk river is 20 feet broad, the current rapid, and the watei* 

 discoloured ; the banks are sandy, 15 feet high : coarse grass, Clematis 

 scandens fol. ternatisectis pinnatis. Jhow is abundant. 



Zrd. — From Toot to , nine miles and four furlongs. Road 



decent, over the usual sort of ground, except in one place, where the 

 bank approaches the river ; this defile is much shorter and much easier 

 than that at Tirandaz or rather Jillongeer : a small river with a little 

 water is crossed : here the road for a very short distance bends sud- 

 denly to a little west of north, but having crossed a narrow and deep 

 ravine-like cut, resumes its original direction. The country continues 

 precisely the same, the valley however becomes narrow and more 

 undulating, while the peculiar limestone ranges appear to be fewer. 

 Reached the encamping ground in very good time, the vegetation 

 almost precisely the same as before, but with some willow trees. 

 Many of the ravines are however, actually covered with thickets, 

 apparently of the prickly yellow flowered Dioica shrub of Chummun ; 

 trees and these shrubs occupied by thousands of a hymenopterous 

 insect or fly. Joussa very abundant : a village, the lights of one 

 were visible en route. The water of the Turnuk is still very much 

 discoloured, its bed shingly, and the ground near it much cut up ; 

 a mill was passed on the river ; the valley here not being 500 yards 

 wide : the climate is more agreeable, though still very hot in the 

 middle of the day ; in the shade, the air continues pleasant up to 

 10 a. m. Thunder not heavy, was succeeded by a squall from the 

 ENE. ; little rain fell, but there were clouds of dust. 



4th. — Reached Khilat-i-Gilzee, distance thirteen and a half miles, 

 from our last encampment, direction NE. by E. as before : the aspect 

 of the country is unchanged, the road became somewhat difficult 

 about one and a half mile from camp, where a defile exists along the 

 hills forming the bank of the river ; it was however much easier than 

 that of Botee. Thence we continued over undulating ground, leaving 

 the Turnuk river to the right, but reverting to it beyond the fort. 

 Half-way the deep and steep channel of a river presented a serious 

 obstacle ; the country gradually rises until Khilat-i-Gilzee fort is 

 passed, from thence it descends somewhat. At this place there is a 

 considerable expanse of irregular valleys : and to south curious low 



