4 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1892. 
miles the valley to the south leading to Amarnath. For considerable 
distances the river is completely covered over with snow. Further 
up we came to a place where, owing to the absence of snow bridges, 
it was impossible to proceed further. Many interesting plants were 
collected in this valley. 
The Zoji La is rather a dangerous pass when covered with 
snow ; otherwise there is no difficulty whatever. I crossed over 
on the 29th June, at w’hich, time there was no snow on the road. 
The views from the summit looking north and south are striking 
from their contraist. On the northern side the mountains are bare 
and rocky, and there is not a tree to be seen in the valley leading to 
Dras; whereas on the Kashmir side the Sind Valley is beautifully 
wooded. The different climatal conditions prevailing on the Dr^s 
side are indicated by the presence of many Tibetan plants ; also by 
the whistling cry of the marmot. The top of the pass is 1 1,287 
Some interesting plants were found on the ridge to the west oi the 
pass up to 12,000 feet. 
After descending the valley for a few miles I made another de- 
tour towards the east and collected a variety of specimens near a 
glacier at about 13,000 feet. 
My camp was pitched at Minimarg, 4 miles further down the 
valley ; and many new plants were collected on the w’ay. 
Before reaching Minimarg we passed a very promising-looking 
valley towards the east, called Suknullah, which I explored on the 
following day, the camp in the meantime having been moved down 
the valley to Mataiyan. The view looking up towards the pass is 
very fine. The sides of the valley here are very precipitous, and 
apparently quite bare of vegetation. 
Between Mataiyan and Pandrds the road crosses from the right to 
the left bank. A tall aromatic fennel-like plant, called A'pat 
Kanphur {Ferula Jaeschkeana)^ is very abundant in this part of 
the valley. It is much valued by Kashmiris as a fodder plant, and 
is cut for winter use. On the Pir Panjdl it is called Kdngwa!* 
The valley suddenly opens out before reaching Dras, an unimportant- 
looking place consisting of a few scattered hamlets. There is, how^ 
ever, a small fort here, also a tehsil and Post Office. The elevation 
is just under 10,000 feet. The surrounding mountains are very 
bare and rocky. Trees are scarce ; only a few willows and poplars 
are to be seen near the villages. 1 halted for one day, and left on 
the 3rd of July with a new set of ponies and coolies. 
The road to Leh continues down the. valley in an easterly direction. 
