MANIKYALA, PUTTIANA, BUKRIALA. 



497 



Manikyala Tope, seen from near Rowil Pendi, is an insignificant 

 building, and presents the same architecture as other topes, and as the 

 Cabul tower, although it is not of the same materials. The lower part 

 of the base is of pure sandstone, the upper of a stalactital conglomerate 

 of small pebbles, often perforated. The terraces at the base are now 

 almost hid by rubbish, so that the whole looks like an overgrown dome 

 or a low mound. There are three stone ledges below, with flat pilasters 

 between the middle and lower ledge on the sides. The dome is much 

 damaged. The stones of which the building was erected, were not 

 hewn inside, but I do not know whether they have not been cemented 

 together. Access is easy to the top partly by means of broken steps, 

 otherwise the stones gave good footing. The top of the ruin is now 

 open and discloses a square funnel, penetrating half the height of build- 

 ing ; thence modern handiwork has caused a broken irregular perfora- 

 tion. The building is not remarkable for great size, nor are any of 

 the stones large, still as a piece of achitecture it is far superior to any 

 thing in modern Afghanistan. The country around is very bare 

 and sufficiently open. It is curious that there are many Indian plants 

 found on or about the building, all indicating a decided approach to 

 Hindoostan. A Sida, Euonymus, Bheir, Lantana, and a Menisper- 

 mum, are common shrubs on the building, also Solanum quercifolium, 

 spinis albis floribus cceruleo purpureis. 



25th. — To Puttiana, seventeen to eighteen miles ; the country much 

 the same, little wood but bushes of the old trees : it is tolerably open 

 until Pukkee Serai is approached, when it becomes very much broken 

 and intersected by ravines in every direction, showing most forcibly 

 the action of water, many of the cliffs thus formed are picturesque. 

 At Pukkee a small river is forded, thence to near Puttiana the country 

 then becomes almost as raviny as before. 



iErua, Bheir, Mudar, a Kochia, much like one of the Cutch ones, 

 and the before- mentioned plants continue. 



26M. — To Bukriala, twenty-two miles. From Puttiana the road 

 is good, extended over a high open country, except where it crosses 

 two ravines ; the first of these containing a stream of water, about ten 

 miles from Puttiana. From Tammuch the road descends steeply 

 into the Bukriala Kakhudd ravine, which takes you to Bukriala. 



This ravine runs through a system of sandstone hills, of a blueish 

 muddy aspect, and red clayey earth, often conglomerate. In colours 

 not unlike the Bamean district. Water is plentiful in pools through- 

 out the lower half of the road, which is all descent. Bukriala stands 



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