380 



FROM GHUZNEE TO CABUL. 



Artemisia, Trifolium, Taraxacum, Mentha, Phalaris, Rumex, the 

 small swardy Carex of Chiltera, Astragalus, calycibus non-inflatis, 

 tomentoso villoso, this last with Composita dislocata is common on 

 shingly plains. 



On slopes of hills Leucades, Cerasus canus, pygmceus rare, Dian- 

 thoides, Plectranthus very common, Cnici 3 or 4, Labiata of Mookh- 

 loor, Senecionoides glaucescens common, Artemisia, sp. very common, 

 Staticoides of Dhun-i-Shere, Anthylloides, Verbascum. 



Hyoscyamus. The circumcision of the capsule of this genus is 

 apparently in connection with the peculiar induration of the calyx of 

 the fruit ; its relations to the capsule is so obvious that its dehiscence 

 is the only one compatible with the free dissemination of the seeds, 

 the calyx remaining entire. Hence ? the induration of the calyx 

 should be the most permanent if it is the cause, but to obviate all 

 doubts, both calyx, fructus induratus, and capsula circumscissa, should 

 enter into the generic character ; the unilaterality of capsules, and 

 their invariable tendency to look downwards, or rather the inferior 

 unilaterality, may likewise reasonably be considered connected with 

 the same structure of calyx, as well as the expanded limb of the 

 calyx . 



The indurated calyx is the cause, because although circumscissa 

 capsula is by no means uncommon, and in others has no relation to 

 the calyx, yet in this genus it has such, and should have in every 

 other similar case. 



August 1st. — Hyderkhet, distance ten and a half miles down the 

 same valley ; the road is bad, and after crossing the undulating termi- 

 nations of the southern slope, very stony and bouldery ; in several 

 places it is narrow and uneven. The country is well inhabited, and 

 very well cultivated, particularly towards the bed of the river, which 

 is here and there ornamented with trees. Numbers of villagers are 

 seen on the road as spectators. Beans very abundant, mustard less 

 so, excellent crops of wheat ; the fields are well tilled, and very 

 cleanly kept: this portion of the valley, though small, is perhaps 

 the best populated and cultivated place we have yet seen : the 

 descent throughout is gradual : the boundary hills, at least lower 

 ranges present a very barren character, covered with angular slaty 

 fragments. Some tobacco cultivation. 



2nd — Shekhabad, nine miles and six furlongs, direction north-east 

 by east. The road throughout is rather bad, particularly in places 

 near the Schneesh river, which has a very rapid current. We 



