482 



CABUL TO KOHI-BABA. 



extremely cold and piercing wind from the Kohi-Baba range. Cnici 

 2, and Festuca triticoides are the most common plants, with Arenaria 

 fruticosa, Composita No. 152, Asphodelus of Erak now nearly passed 

 flower, and some Astragali. But on this side, Cnici cease almost 

 entirely, although they re-appear lower down, but only partially, and 

 the top of the pass is covered with the Statice of Kurzar, and Astra- 

 gali, among which, that with the flat pod, winged on the dorsal 

 suture, is the most common. Lower down the same, or similar 

 features continue, and the only plants limited to this side are a curi- 

 ous Astragalus, Crotalarioid, Polygonum fruticosa, microphyllum, 

 and spinosum, a Boraginea like that of Jugdulluck, but much smaller 

 and decumbent, a Papaveraceae, petalis Papaveris Rhoeadis, with a 

 siliquose fruit, and Clematis erecta : willow trees (the broad leaved 

 species) occur here, a large Agrostic grass, Ribes and Symphorema 

 of Erak. 



The Affghans appear to cut every plant almost of any size for 

 winter fodder, even thistles, docks, etc. The purple Lactucoid of 

 Cabul re- appears, and the curious flat fruit calyxed Boraginea of 

 Shawl both in abundance. The crops here are not more forward 

 than those at Kurzar ; the fields are crowded with Stellaria, but there 

 is much less Tanacetum ; Geraniums occur in profusion. 



Silene fimbriata, is a night flower, withering by 9 a. m. 



I found no snow up the left Hajeeguk ravine, and the effect was 

 marked, namely, that none of the alpine plants are so abundant about 

 it as last season, when they were in flower, or had passed. 



There is on the hills about this ravine, a large burrowing animal, 

 probably a marmot ; it is of a dark colour with tawny rump : when on 

 the alert it sits on its rump, or rather perhaps raised on the hind 

 legs, and has the voice of an ordinary Rodentia. 



I heard several of these, but saw only one. 



Rich botanising is to be had on the swampy ground at the mouth 

 of the right ravine. Pediculares 2, Silenacese 3 or 4, Veronicese 2, 

 Orchis 1, Ranunculi 2, Junci 2, Carices several, Swertiae 2, one the 

 larger Solidago, Geranium, Gramineee several, Parnassia of Erak, 

 Campanula, Ruta odora, etc. 



3rd. — To Topehee. The vegetation of Kaloo is far less varied 

 than that of Hajeeguk, for it presents no such swampy ravines at such 

 elevation's. 



The plants of the hills around Kaloo villages continue half-way 

 up, on the road over the ravine Corvisartia is plentiful, with a Labiata, 



