ALI-MUSJID. 



425 



feet : it is 200 to 300 yards in length, and is terminated at either 

 end by two towers, both of which are ruinous, it is built of slabs 

 and rough blocks of limestone, between which are layers of slate, 

 much like the Bactrian pillar, and very superior to modern buildings s 

 what its use was, it would be difficult to conjecture as it is out of 

 musket shot of the ghat, which it only commands by being above it. 

 There is no water on the top, nor is there any well marked path 

 up to it : curious mortar- like excavations were observed in a mass 

 of limestone just below, probably for pounding rice. Up the ravine 

 are remains of terraces formerly used for cultivation, but now mostly 

 disused. At 700 to 800 feet above the ghat the ravine abounds with 

 the Ficus of Gundamuck ; this and the Adhatoda or Rooss are perhaps 

 cultivated : the ravine is pretty well entangled with Ficus and brush- 

 wood. It consists of metamorphosed rocks and excavated limestone ; 

 some mosses occur, and Adiantum abounding. 



From the ridge, a rather extensive view to the south is obtained, ex- 

 tending to the Khyber fort, which is of the ordinary square form, and 

 just below it, a tower and house. To the east, and all around a good 

 deal of cultivation occurs; also several high ridges, say 7,000 feet; 

 one terminating 4,000 feet above us, presents a very rugged outline 

 with the appearance of rather large trees. The road up to the ghat is 

 visible, as well as the Choky and a fort, with a small sheet of culti- 

 vation to the eastward. Beyond this a ravine, then two other ridges, 

 of which the nearer one is high. The Cabul river passes to the 

 NNW., and Lalpoor lies to the north. One peak and a small piece 

 of ridge of Hindoo-koosh, white with snow, is seen very distinctly 

 though distant, it must therefore be very lofty ; far more so than 

 any part we have seen to the westward. 



The general character of the hills in every direction except the 

 snowy range, is bluffly rounded, very bare, and brown, with here and 

 there a shrub. 



That which Burnes calls Noorgil, is the range of Kareaz, and is 

 distinct from Koonur. Kashgur lies beyond the snowy range. 



The inhabitants of the mountains, like those of Lalpoor, wear sandals 

 made of the fibres of Chamserops, which is common : one plant of 

 Ephedra used for snuff? 



3rd. — Proceeded to one mile beyond Ali-Musjid. The ascent com- 

 mences immediately where the Choky is seen from the camp, by a 

 very good road cut out of slate rock ; the rocks are steep on both 

 sides, and very zig-zag ; a short partial descent in one place occurs 

 to a small pool of water. From the Choky, a descent takes place by 



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