FORT OF KOJHUK OR ZOHAWK. 



405 



One of the long-tailed clumsy Brachypodiums occurs in the fields : 

 bears also are found here. 



Joussa, Mentha, Tanacetoid, Polypogonum, Cichorium, Plantago, 

 common thistle, Potamogeton longifolium, Labiata arvensis of Yonutt, 

 Centaurea lutea, Cyanea angustifolia, Cochlearia, Hippuris, Ranun- 

 culus, Potamogeton pectinata, Triglochin, Convolvulus arvensis, 

 acaulis, Glaux, Capparis of Arghandab, Centranthera pinnatifida, 

 Malva rotundifolia, Asteroides, Lactuca purpurea. 



Salt is obtained in some places from the red earth, as also alum an 

 earthy substance of a whitish or brown colour, and irregular surface, 

 sent in quantities to Mindosh, called Zak. 



6th. — To Zohawk, down the valley two miles beyond the mouth of 

 Topehee ravine, or embouchure of the Kulloo-Rood. The angle is 

 occupied by a Kafir fort called Kojhuk, of very large size, situated 

 on a precipitous dusky-red and very high rock, facing towards both 

 rivers ; the defences reach down the eastern face of rock to the Kulloo 

 bed, and are in good preservation, more ornamented than the modern 

 fort, and better proportioned. A pretty grass sward occurs here, 

 with Tamarisk. 



The fort must have been of great size, and is chiefly weak, i. e. 

 to a native army, from depending on the river for supplies of water, 

 for it is commanded from the opposite sides of either ravine. The 

 bed of the river under the east face, presents the remains of outworks 

 to protect the supply of water, which is perhaps a sign of its being 

 a recent structure ? 



The works are good, much better than those of the Affghans, the 

 view of the fort from half a mile down the Bamean river, with the 

 sun gilding the ruined battlements, while the precipice contrasts 

 with it its dusky-red colour, is beautiful. 



The Bamean river, especially after receiving the Kulloo-Rood, is of 

 considerable size, but fordable at the head of most of the rapids, its 

 course is rapid, and its waters greyish, while those of the Kulloo are 

 quite colourless ; its bed is of some width, presenting a capital road 

 over green sward, with plenty of willows, Lycium, Hippophae, Ber- 

 beris, and Tamarisk. 



About one mile east of our camp, its ravine turns to the south. 

 Wild ducks, quails, chakor, and trout occur whose haunts are in holes, 

 and taking the worm are easily caught. 



This fort of Kojhuk is as well worth examining as any place we 

 have seen, the dusky-red rocks are coarse conglomerate. A violent 



