6 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1892. 
cultivated ground in this part of the valley, including many fields of 
barley. Aftei changing coolies we had before us a steep ascent 
up to 12,000 feet in order to cross over into the Shigar Valley. 
The small village of Shigar is prettily situated at some distance above 
the river, The valley just here is rather wide, and some side valleys 
open into it on the opposite side, where the mountain scenery is very 
grand. Their lower slopes are clothed with forest, consisting chiefly 
of Ptfius excelsa and Juniperus excels^. Mosquitos are very trouble- 
some here at about sunset, and at higher elevations up to 14,000 feet 
hey are even worse. It must of course belong to a different species 
from that of the plains of India. The wild flowers here are very 
beautiful and interesting. On the following day we had to cross the 
Shigar over rather a difficult rope bridge, 1 12 yards long. The loads 
were taken over by a few experienced men. The water is very deep 
here, and so quiet that one wonders why they don^t use ferry boats 
instead of this twig bridge, which has to be constantly repaired. 
After seeing all the baggage safely over we took the path leading to 
the entrance of the Karpuchu Valley, where there is a village called 
Matral, and a fort or tower built of alternate layers of wood and 
stone. From here the road winds up the valley gradually ascending 
through a forest of pine and juniper to our next camping-ground at 
about 12,000 feet. This place is called Karpuchu, and consists, as far 
as 1 could see, of a single shepherd's hut. On the following day we 
made another march further up the valley to about 14,000 feet. Heavy 
rain came on before the camp could be pitched, and an uncomfort- 
able night was spent under wet can\as which was frozen hard before 
the morning. We had not far to go the next morning (July iith) 
before reaching the summit of the B^ri Ld, about 15,000 feet. There 
are several small tarns on the further side. A good deal of snow 
was lying about, and vegetation was scanty, consisting chiefly of 
Primulas, Sedums, and Saxifrages A very curious plant called Gal- 
gal is abundant here.^ It is a species of Saussurea [S. obvallata). 
The pale yellow bracts are very large and loosely envelope the com^ 
posite heads of flowers, which are strongly scented. The stillness 
at these high elevations is always very striking. After descending, 
however, for a short distance on the other side, the air was filled 
with the shrill cries of the marmots. Our next camping-ground was 
close to a big mass of rock at about 1 4,oco feet, and looting down the 
valley towards the north-west one could see a small potion of the 
Deosai Plains. 
Coolies and all were glad tn leave this ble'alc and inhospitable 
spot, but we had a hard day beforjj us, with two passes to get over, 
and a long steep descent into the Satpur Valley. 
