428 



PESHAWUR. 



with embrasures for guns on a commanding mound : thence we passed 

 over a gentle slope with a good many scattered Bheirs, Kureels, ^Erua, 

 Mudar, etc. to camp, where the ground is very rough and stony, 

 abundant water obtained from a cut with sheets of maize cultivation. 

 Fossil shells, Pterocles, found in arenaceous limestone (Durand). 



7th. — To Peshawur, eight and a half miles, over a sandy plain ; 

 road bad, intersected with cuts and ravines ; three canals had to be 

 crossed by small bridges which occasioned a good deal of delay to 

 the camels. Passed the Seikh lines, between the fort and north face 

 of town, and encamped on east face opposite the Governor's house : 

 three gibbets were passed, with twelve persons hanging from them, 

 some of old date. 



In the evening we had a gay party at M. Avitabili's, who is a fine 

 looking man, with an intelligent Italian countenance. 



In a room gaudily decorated and painted, was the following very 

 appropriate motto — 



Donee eris felix multos numerabis amicos. 

 Tempora si fuerunt nubila, solus eris. 



If this was true in Rome, and is true in Europe, to what extent 

 does its truth not reach in this country. In the evening we were 

 entertained with dancing and fireworks ; excellent dinner and admi- 

 rable bread. 



14th. — To-day the atmosphere is hazy, but the snowy range is 

 not topped with clouds. It is curious enough that the part which 

 is most exposed to our view, and which bears about north-east, is 

 generally clouded throughout the hotter parts of the day, while 

 apparently equally high peaks in other directions remain clear. 



It is curious that in Khorassan remarkably few climbing plants 

 occur, and of these, the chief form is Cuscuta. 



Botany here at this season is a non- entity, in the marsh close to 

 the fort, there occur some few plants, the chief European forms being 

 Veronica. Ranunculus sceleratus is now coming into flower, Typha 

 angustifolia abounds, with Arundo, also Sparganium, Sium, Butomus 

 trigonifolius common ; otherwise Cyperacese, Epilobium out of season ! 

 Ranunculus aquaticus is most abundant; two species of Chara, or 

 rather 1 Chara, and 1 Nitella, the last a beautiful species, Marsilea 

 in profusion, Azolla common, Lemna two or three species, one new, 

 a floating Marchantiacia, Nelumbium occurs, but only as a cultivated 

 plant. 



