384 



FROM GHUZNEE TO CABUL. 



plants a Boragineae floribus infundibuliformis, tubiformibus, lceta 

 caeruleis, venosa roseis, melons. Snow on the Hindoo-koosh : rain in 

 the afternoon, and at night a heavy thunderstorm to the north. 



7 th. — Kilah-i-Kajee, lies one mile to the eastward : distance of 

 to-day's march, nine miles ? one continued but gradual descent 

 over a bad, frequently very stony road, not much water. Direction 

 at first ENE., then on descending into the first valley, due east or 

 even to the south of east-, we encamped in the centre of a well 

 cultivated valley, near dense gardens, having good apples ; apricots 

 indifferent. Hindoo-koosh is here more distinctly visible with several 

 ranges interposed ; the outline is rugged, highest point presenting a 

 fine conical irregular peak towards the south-east. 



8th. — Halted : encamped close to gardens and rich cultivation. 

 The fields are separated by rows of poplars, willows, and Elseagnus ; 

 scenery pretty from abundance of trees with rice fields interspersed 

 among woods ; the umbrageous banks of the rocky river of Cabul, 

 are quite of unusual beauty for Affghanistan : extensive fields of 

 cultivation lie in this direction, as well as across the valley in the 

 direction of Cabul, consisting of rice in great quantities, mixed with 

 much of a Panicum stagninum, lucerne, carrots, peas, quantities of 

 safflower, which appears to me to be of a different species, wheat 

 and barley both cut, the rice is just in flower. 



In orchards, hazel-nuts, apples, pears, etc. some of the fruit excel- 

 lent, particularly pears, but generally they are coarse ; apples beautiful 

 to look at, but poor to the taste, excellent but too luscious plums, 

 good grapes, excellent and fine sized peaches, melons as good as 

 those of Candahar, water melons, cherries of very dark colour. 



Some change is to be observed in the vegetation, see Catalogue, 

 two or three Labiata, an Ononis, an Aconite, Tussilago ? etc. among 

 the most striking, Ammannia and Bergioides, remarkable as tropical 

 forms, but it is now hot enough for any plant : rice fields crowded 

 with Cyperaceae and Alisma. 



Crataegus oxycantha, or one very like it. The poplar here grows 

 like the Lombardy one, either from cropping or crowding ; its leaves 

 (when young) are much smaller ! and at this stage it might easily 

 be taken for another species. 



Heliotropium canus common. The large poplar when young, or 

 even when matured, has its younger branches with terminal leaves 

 like the sycamore. The pomacese-foliis palmatis subtus niveis of 

 Quettah and Candahar are nothing but this poplar in its young 



