8 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR JN KASHMIR, i8g2. 
into the Indus Valley immediately opposite Skirdu. I halted two 
days here, and my time was fully occupied replying to the numer- 
ous letters which had been awaiting my arrival for many days, and 
attending to the large collection of specimens recently collected. 
Captain Townsend, of the Central India Horse, was here in com- 
mand of some Kashmir Imperial Service Troops, and was the only 
Englishman in this place when I arrived. 1 am much indebted to 
him for his kind assistance in various ways, as well as for his hospi- 
tality 'I'he Tehsildar, who is practically the governor of Skardu, 
was also most obliging. A great deal might be written regarding 
the history of this interesting place, also of the scenery, which is very 
striking. All cultivation is carried on by means of irrigation, the 
channels for which extend for miles from the sources of supply. The 
numerous villages which are scattered throughout the valley are 
conspicuous by their settin gs of vivid green patches in the midst of 
a sandy desert. A very superior kind of apricot 1 s to be obtained 
from some of the gardens. When ripe it is extremely juicy, more 
like a plum in this respect, and the flavour is delicious. It is called 
chilu, but is very different from the ordinary hill apricot met with in 
this country, the flesh of which is more or less of a firm consistency. 
Walnut trees are plentiful, also some superior kinds of mulberry. 
1 left Skdrdu on the 17th of July for Katzura, a sma 1 » village 
about 16 miles up the valley towards Rondu. It lies on the left 
bank of the Indus, close to the large torrent which comes down 
roaring and foaming out of the Shigarthang Valley. This is a very 
trying march owing to the long stretches of sand which throw off an 
immense amount of heat during the day. For the first few miles out 
of Skardu the path is shaded by an avenue of poplars, but suddenly 
this avenue abruptly terminates at the edge of a sandy desert. One 
of the villages I passed through wa.s inhabited by Kashmiris. I 
found a man manuring his tobacco field with freshly-cut plants of 
a kind of thistle {Cnicus arvensis)^ which he called kanish. The 
tobacco was of the coarse round-leaved variety {Ntcottana rustied), 
I rested for a short time at the village of Hoto, and was much 
refreshed by some apricots which were presented to me. The wheat 
here was much rusted. This village is liable to the encroachment of 
the Indus as well as to inundations of blown sand. After this the 
road begins to rise gradually towards Katzura. A pretty lake is 
passed, and soon after that the Shigarthang Stream is crossed by 
a bridge. A few htindred yards further on is the village surrounded 
by fruit-trees (walnuts, apricots, and mulberries). On arrival I was 
presented with a basket of excellent large round black mulber- 
ries. This variety is called kachilosa^' or “ shdhtuty Wheat, 
