398 



CABUL TO BAMEAN. 



2nd. — From Sohkta Kullar-Rood to Topehee, eight and a half 

 miles. The road lay in a northerly direction for a quarter of a mile, 

 then turning up a steep ravine, with an ascent for 800 feet ; then small 

 descent, then levellish, until we came to a black cliff, over which 

 another steeper but longer ascent extended, then it became levellish 

 for some distance ; two other moderate, extended, longish ascents, 

 led us to the summit, which is 500 feet higher than that of Hajeeguk. 

 The descent continued steep and most tedious on reaching the pre- 

 cipitous ravine of Topehee, the road wound over small spurs, until we 

 came to a grove of willows near the village. The road although 

 steep is not bad, the soil being soft, that of the upper parts and of 

 the descent, even annoying from the sand, both might with little 

 trouble be made easy, but especially the descent. 



The mercury of the Barometer on the summit at 11 a. m., stood 

 at 19 513, at ll£ a. m., 19 506, Thermometer 66°. 



The camels all came up but one, though very slowly ; to them as 

 to us, the descent was more tiring than the ascent. 



From the summit a fine view of Kohi-Baba was obtained, running: 

 to NW, by N. To the NE., another high range, but not so marked 

 as Kohi-Baba, was seen running in a similar direction ; on this, two 

 considerable peaks present themselves, but only visible when lower 

 down. 



A splendid view of the Bamean valley is here obtained. We have 

 now obviously passed the highest ranges : to west where the coun- 

 try is low and flat ; to the north, the mountains indistinctly visible, 

 are beautifully varied, presenting rugged outlines 10,000 feet above 

 Bamean, also a view of an unearthly looking mountain, most variedly 

 sculptured, is obtained, with here and there rich ravines and columnar 

 sided vallies, presenting tints very varied ; in those of the lower 

 ranges, rich rosy tints are predominant ; also niches in which gigantic 

 idols are plainly seen : also a view of Goolghoolla, looking as it is 

 in reality, a ruined city : a fine gorge apparently beyond the Bamean 

 river, and a large ravine due north, by which I expect the Bamean 

 river reaches the Oxus ; not a tree is to be seen, except a few 

 about Bamean. The whole view is indescribably volcanic, barren yet 

 rich, requiring much colouring to convey an idea of it. 



To the top of the pass it is three and a half miles ; the character 

 of Kulloo mountain is different from that above described, it is 

 rounded, and composed of a curious compact slate, towards the sum- 

 mit well covered with plants, large tufts of Statice, two or three 



