382 



FROM GHUZNEK TO CABUL. 



Anthylloides, Plectranthus common, Peganum uncommon, Stati- 

 coides major, Composita3 dislocata common. 



In the swardy and wet spots, along river, the usual plants occur ; 

 the novelty being a Hippuris out of flower, Plantago, Glaux, Chara, 

 Alisma, Tamarisk, Salix, Trifolium fragiferum, Thermopsis, Cyperacea, 

 Triglochim, Equisetum. The Nuthatch found in the cliffs, cultiva- 

 tion occurs. 



To-day news arrived of the flight of Dost Mahommud to Bameean, 

 with 3,000 Affghan Horse. Captain Outram sent in pursuit. The 

 Shah joined us, attended by perhaps 2,000 Horse, and people are 

 said to be flocking into our camp from Cabul. 



4th. — Proceeded to Killa-Sir-i-Mahommud, distance ten and a 

 half miles, direction north by east, the park of artillery, etc. remain- 

 ing behind, the road for the first half extending over undulating 

 ground to the head of the valley, then becoming level and good 

 with some inferior cultivation : the valley is dry and barren. We 

 encamped on stony ground forming a slight eminence under a beauti- 

 ful peak, certainly 4,000 to 5,000 feet above the plain, and hence 

 12,000 to 13,000 feet above the sea. The valley at the base of the 

 hills is occupied by a few villages, but generally speaking little 

 population exists in these parts. No change in vegetation ; at the 

 level part of the march the Chenopodiaceae of Karabagh is very 

 common. 



The 2,000 Dooranees who joined the Shah yesterday dwindled 

 down to 300 by the evening, and the camp was fired into at night. 

 There is some cultivation about this, chiefly of mustard, carrots, 

 millet and Panicum, Setaria. 



5th. — To Maidan, distance eight miles ? direction at first as before, 

 but after crossing the river due north, we continued down the valley, 

 passing some villages and cultivation consisting of beans, etc. ; water 

 being abundant about three miles from camp, forming a small brook, 

 which falls into the Cabul river at the end of the valley. Before 

 reaching this we crossed a low spur, and then descended into Maidan 

 valley : which presented a beautiful view ; much cultivation, and 

 trees abundant along the Cabul river. 



Crossing this which is a rapid current one foot deep, twenty yards 

 wide, running south, or in the contrary direction to that which is 

 given in Tassin's Map, we ascended an eminence on which a ruinous 

 stone fort is built, we crossed this eminence between the fort and 

 main ridge and descended into a valley again, keeping above the 



