HUFTASYA AND SHUSGAO. 



379 



The Botany is rather interesting, the general features are the 

 same as those of the hills round Ghuznee ; the most common plants 

 Senecionoides glaucus, Plectranthus of Mookhloor in profusion, a new 

 densely tufted Statice very common, Verbascum, Thapsioides, Linaria, 

 Artemisia very common, Cnici, two or three of large stature, Astragali, 

 two or three, Asphodelus luteus, Labiata of Mookhloor, Santalacea, 

 Dipsacus, Thymus, Lotoides, Staticoides major. 



In the undulated ground before reaching the valley preceding the 

 pass, a fine tall Cnicus occurs, also Plectranthus ; Peganum is very 

 common. 



About our halting place the same small Artemisia and Composita 

 dislocata occur in profusion ; Cnicus zamiafolius, Dianthus aglaucine, 

 Astragalus, a peculiar prim-looking species. Leguminosse, Muscoides 

 two or three, very large Cnici, Plectranthus, Iris out of flower, Astra- 

 gali alii, 2-3. 



Cultivation consisting of mustard and very poor crops, of which 

 wheat is the principal : a few ordinary villages are seen with good 

 and abundant supplies of water ; the country notwithstanding is in- 

 ferior, as compared with that about Ghuznee. The soil coarse and 

 gravelly, or pebbly. Thermometer 47° at 5 a. m. 



After descending from the gorge, the summit of which may be 

 estimated at 400 to 500 feet, the ascent is considerable : barometer 

 standing at 1% p. m. at 22 323 ; thermometer 86°; so that the 

 extreme ascent since leaving Ghuznee has certainly been between 

 1,100 to 1,200 feet. 



The inhabitants are coming into camp with articles for sale, 

 as lucerne, clover, coarse rugs, and sheep. 



31st. — Proceeded to Huftasya, eight and a quarter miles, direction 

 about the same, continuing down a narrow valley with a well marked 

 and tolerable road, extending over undulating ground, having a 

 slight descent throughout : the centre of the valley is cultivated, vil- 

 lages extend up the ravines of the northern side. We halted near 

 several villages, with a good deal of cultivation around, consisting of 

 beans and mustard. But few trees are seen about the villages, and 

 there is no change in vegetation : water abundant from covered 

 kahreezes or wells, which generally flow into small tanks. 



The slope of the southern boundary is undulated, that of the north- 

 ern though generally flat and uninteresting, yet near us becomes 

 very bold and rugged, but its ravines and passes are easily accessible. 



Shusgao — The plants found here about the cultivation, are Achil- 

 lseoides, Asteroides, Plantago major, Hyoscyamus, Tanacetoides, 



