CHUSHM-I - SH ADEE. 



367 



Cyperus fuscus. Alisma abundant in swamps : small partridges : no 

 chakor : hares, swifts, rock-pigeons. Springs of beautiful clear 

 water : temperature not changeable, 59° ; two small platiceroid fishes 

 in it; tadpoles. Temperature of the river 78°. The fish of this river 

 are the same as those of the Arghandab, the large Cyprinus takes 

 Cicada greedily. The vegetation of the hills is the same : Cerasus 

 pygmaeus and canus, common ; the novelties were a fine Composjta, 

 Plectranthus, Ephedra in fruit, Artemisia, and Astragal., formed the 

 chief bulk ; Joussa is common on the river sides. 



This place is 150 feet above the last, yet the increased elevation 

 is not appreciable to the sight : the tents of the army at the Tazee 

 encampment are distinctly visible. Atta sold at eight seers yesterday, 

 barley sixteen seers for the rupee. Where the sellers come from I 

 know not. Atta was fifteen seers, but it was soon made eight by the 

 approach of the army, and to-day it has risen to four and a half. 



llth. — Proceeded to Chushm-i-Shadee, ten miles six furlongs, 

 direction the same : road good, not requiring any repairs ; it continues 

 up the valley but at a greater distance from the river than before ; 

 the valley is enclosed in hills on both sides. Koh-i-Soork, the northern 

 one, is not very high, but bold and cliffy, with very little cultivation : 

 the country is less undulated. Chushm-i-Shadee is a beautiful spring, 

 not deep, but extending some distance under ground : large-sized fish 

 are found in it : apparently Ophiocephali, but only parts of their 

 bodies can be seen. Indian- corn and madder are cultivated : a new 

 Asteraceous flower was found. Passed a small eminence in the centre 

 of the valley, about three miles from Chushm-i-Shadee. Joussa very 

 abundant. Temperature of spring 59°. 



\2th. — Reached Chushm-i-Pinjup, six and a half miles, direction 

 more northerly ; keeping Capella a little to the right : the country 

 is precisely the same, the road good, one or two easy ravines ; one 

 with water in it. 



The valley is rather wider, soil much less shingly, and capable 

 of cultivation ; several patches of trees are visible in many directions, 

 indicating villages. We encamped opposite the entrance or gap be- 

 tween the mountains forming hitherto the southern boundary, and a 

 more lofty range is seen running parallel with them, about east and west. 

 This range is of considerable height ; presenting a peculiar slope rising 

 almost half-way up, and very conspicuous : four forts are seen in this 

 direction ; together with several patches of trees, and a good deal of 

 cultivation, but nothing to what might exist. Artemisia is the chief 



