REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1892 
place and Minawar were not then open for traffic, we had some 
difficulty with the loads, epecially at certain spots wdiere the debris 
from the new road was being shot down on to the only other pos- 
sible track. I found Captain Yielding at Minawar early the next 
morning, and we rode on from there to Gilgit. 
The views of the snowy peaks towards the north-east were won- 
derfully fine, one of them, Rakapushi, over 25,000 feet standing out 
clear against the blue sky. The first sight of Gilgit from th.e Jutial 
Ridge is very striking, as you look down upon the wide expanse of 
orchards and cultivated fields, the colours of which appeared so vivid 
by contrast with the surrounding bare and dazzling rocks. 
I stayed at Gilgit for one day, and left early on the morning of 
the 2nd of August for Nomal in the Hunza Valley. After crossing 
the bridge over the Gilgit River the road follows the left bank of that 
river in an easterly direction for about 3 miles, and then turns 
round towards the north up the Hunza Valley. The distance from 
Gilgit to Nomal by this road is about 16 miles. This is a very hot 
and trying march in summer, as there is not a particle of shade 
except at one place, about halfway, where a landslip has brought 
down spme big boulders. There is no water either, except that of 
the river, which at this time of the year is quite muddy and looks 
more like a mixture of ink and milk. After entering the Hunza 
Valley the road traverses for some miles an undulating sandy tract 
covered in parts by a large bushy species of Ephedra {E, intermedia). 
After passing the boulders the road is carried for a con- 
siderable distance along the side of a p’*ecipitous hill, descending 
again to more level ground before reaching Nomal. The elevation of 
this place is 5,500 feet. 
On the following morning I left the Hunza road, and went up the 
Naltar Valley towards the north-west. For the first few miles the 
valley is confined within bare precipitous rocks. Some interesting 
specimens were gathered near the river, which has to be crossed by 
bridges four times before reaching the village of Naltar, the elevation 
of which is about 6,500 feet. There is plenty of vegetation here, and 
some good crops were seen of wheat, barley, kangni (locally called 
pirpit) and chena. M’alnuts, apples, and vines are also grown 
here. 
After resting for a little while 1 continued up the path for a few 
miles, and found a capital camping ground in a forest of silver fir at 
an elevation of about g.ooo feet. Beyond this the valley opens out, 
and is clothed with fine forests containing silver fir juniper, and blue 
