476 



GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. 



rocks are generally completely covered by sand and shingle, or stones ; 

 but as we approach the boundaries of the vallies, they protrude into 

 ridges, often of considerable size and height. The vallies however 

 are not entirely bounded by these to the west, for as I have said, the 

 plain of Koord Cabul is reached by crossing undulations of this same 

 formation. From Khuggur to Gundamuck, about five stony steppes 

 are crossed, each rising in height above the last, and each separated 

 by deep ravines, with one or both banks generally precipitous, afford- 

 ing exit to streamlets from the Sofaid-Koh. It is curious that the 

 streamlets, and streams about Gundamuck have not worn themselves 

 half as deep channels as those about Khuggur, although no appreci- 

 able difference is apparent in the strata. 



The surface is often rendered rugged in places by the occurrence of 

 loose slabs, which give the appearance of stratification to the rocks. 



It appears to me that the whole of the extreme eastern Khoras- 

 san originally was a bed of stones or boulders, overlying a forma- 

 tion of pure sand, and that its irregular surface is due to the subse- 

 quent upheavement of the foundation ridges. The good soil is in 

 such case necessarily confined to the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the streams, etc. descending from those ridges. 



The following is a section exposed on the north boundary of the 

 valley, not far from Jugdulluck : — 



a. Foundation rocks ; b. upper part of declivity ; c. cliffs of conglomerate ; d. 

 sand. 



The whole tract is devoid of trees, until one nears Jugdulluck, 

 when not only the foundation rocks, but also the stony undulated 

 hills are dotted with stunted trees of Baloot and Xanthoxylon. 

 Tufted Andropogoneous grasses form the prevailing feature, ^Erua 

 also is common along the streams : and wherever the ground retains 

 moisture, Typha latifolia abounds with the usual frequenters of 

 watery spots. The road to Gundamuck, especially the ascent of the 

 two last steppes, is infamous ; but the regular Jallalabad road is good, 



