KHILAT-I-GILZEE TO GHUZNEE. 



365 



undulated ground occurs : to the south-east is a patch of table land, 

 which is not an uncommon form in these parts ; some cultivation here 

 exists along the Turnuk, which runs half a mile below the fort, which 

 is in ruins, occupying a hill not commanded by any near ones. This 

 is of no great height, and has two ramifications, and in the centre 

 the remains of a tower. 



In the valley extending NNE. two villages with castles occur, 

 together with a good many low trees. Vegetation the same : a curi- 

 ous Antirrhinoid plant occurs out of flower, Echinops, Carduacea, 

 and a curious Centaurea. Wet places abound in Rumex and Tama- 

 risk along the river. Horsemen were seen after passing the fort : two 

 or three willow trees about the villages. Jhow or barley is selling 

 for ten seers the rupee, atta or flour at eight. 



5th. — Khilat-i-Gilzee is a very uninteresting place, with little 

 appearance of cultivation. The vegetation of the undulated ground 

 continues the same, Asphodelus, Mesembryanthemoides, remains of 

 Tauschia, and the former Cruciferse. The Turnuk discharges a good 

 deal of water much discoloured, and forming a series of constant 

 rapids. The most common plants are Artemisise two or three species, 

 Centaurea spinosa, Salsola luteiflora, Almond groves, Iris crocifolia ? 

 vel sp. afnnis, Asphodelus, Mesemb., Salvioides, Thermopsis, Cicho- 

 rium, Joussa, and Mentha recur, the two last in abundance. The 

 new plants are a Chenopodium, Polygonum, Lotoides, Triticum, 

 Astragalus, Scirpus, Csesalpinioides, Centaurea micrantha, and Eryn- 

 gioides : a spring occurs in the old fort of Khilat-i-Gilzee. 



Indian-corn is just sprouting up, barley and other crops ripe. 

 Latitude of Khilat-i-Gilzee 32° 7' 30"; altitude, Bar. 24'740 : the 

 climate is disagreeable from the violent sudden extremes to which 

 it is exposed. West winds during day, and east winds of a morning. 



6th. — Proceeded to Sir Tasp, ten miles, north-east, road good over 

 an open undulating country, the only difficulty in the way arising 

 from a cut with deep holes in it. Vegetation continues precisely the 

 same : limestone hills less frequent, or at any rate much less rugged, 

 and the country assumes a much more open character. Artemisia most 

 abundant, of large size, Caesalpinia, Euonymus dioica, Centaurea 

 spinosa, Echinops, new plants two Linariae, Eryngium, Verbascum. 

 Altitude 24-505, latitude 32° 12' 22" north. Atta has risen in price 

 to seven seers a rupee. 



7th. — Arrived at Nooroock after a march of nine miles ; still extend- 

 ing up the valley in a direction north-east— direct on the star Capella. 



