370 



KHILAT- I-GILZEK TO GHUZNBE. 



Cerasus pygmreus, canus, Scrophularia tertia, Composite, Labiatae, 

 and grasses, are all the most common plants. 



The novelties along the water are a pretty species of Astragalus, 

 in turf a Triglochin and Typha in flower, Potamogetons 3-4, and 

 Ecratophyllum occur : barley is now selling at sixteen seers, wheat at" 

 eight seers for a rupee. 



\6th. — Reached Oba-kahreeze, the distance of which from the last 

 encampment being fourteen miles. The country is open, but very 

 uninteresting ; the boundary hills are scarcely discernible owing to 

 haze : the road is good, and a few small hills occur here and there. 

 Vegetation is comparatively scanty ; Astragalus novus, common ; the 

 chief plants, however, is another Artemisia of much more medicated 

 qualities than those previously met with, that is, less fragrant, Pega- 

 num common. Water is plentiful enough, but fodder is scarce, and 

 scarcely any Joussa occurs ; but a good deal of cultivation was passed, 

 consisting of madder, barley, and wheat. A few trees were observed 

 here and there marking the sites of villages. The country is much 

 poorer than that at Mookhloor, but almost the whole expanse of plain 

 is capable of good cultivation : soil pebbly. Fowls a good many are 

 procurable. Apricots are also brought for sale, but very inferior : a 

 striking boundary hill to the north presents a rugged, lofty aspect, 

 not less in the peaks than 4,000 above the plain ; several ranges 

 occur, but those to the south are low, rounded, and small ; rounded 

 clumps of Astragali are seen. 



17M. — Proceeded to Jumrat, 12 miles and 2 furlongs, our direction 

 lying to the north of the star Capella. The country continues to pre- 

 sent a similar aspect : valley expanded, road tolerable, several ravines 

 and beds of dry watercourses, with sandy bottoms ; indeed as com- 

 pared with yesterday, the soil is much more sandy and less pebbly. 

 Vegetation is the same, no more dense aggregations of Artemisia 

 fruticosa are seen, but the plants consisting of scattered Artemisia of 

 yesterday, barely suffruticose, Peganum, Astragalus, Astragaloid Mus- 

 coideus, and Senecio glaucescens. A good deal of cultivation occurs 

 on both sides of the slope towards the southern boundary, which 

 is here lofty, presenting the usual limestone characters. Many vil- 

 lages are seen, all fortified, and about Jumrat there is the appearance 

 of much population. Jerboas, ravens, rock pigeons, and wild pigeons, 

 are common : hares are uncommon. Very few trees are to be seen, 

 but there is abundance of good water and grass along the margins 

 of the cut. Sheep are also to be had, but they are small, and goats 



