REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1893. 
33 
as the excellent appearance of the crops, consisting chiefly of 
barley, chena, and buckwheat. The construction of a proper road 
between Dr 4 s and Gurais, vii Tilail, would be the means of develop- 
ing very considerably the capabilities of this valley as a source 
of supply to less-favoured districts. There are only two places 
where any serious obstacles would have to be overcome, vis. just 
below the village of Battakulan on the Dr 4 s side, and the narrow 
gorge of the Kishenganga between Tilail and Gurais. 
The elevation of Baragim is about 9,000 feet. The principal 
crop is buckwheat, of which two kinds are grown, vis., Faiopyrum 
esculentum and F. tataricum. I also saw fields of chena {Panicum 
miliaceum), and of a variety of mustard. Alt the grass and weeds 
on the hill-sides were being cut and stacked as fodder for winter 
use. My next halting-place was Zargei. The flat ground by the 
river is covered with a dense jungle of willow, and a little lower 
down the Valley narrows suddenly into the precipitous gorge leadine- 
to the. Burzil valley. ® 
The ofiicials in this part of the valley gave me a good deal of 
trouble by their unwillingness to provide transport and supplies. 
They are very independent and somewh.it insolent in their manner, 
the result, no doubt, of the inaccessibility of the place, ^ 
The next day (4th September) I went over into the Burzil 
valley, and encamped near the village of Surwan. The path leaving 
the Kihhenganga valley about a mile below Zargei village, turns 
up the Barnei n 4 la towards the north, and after a gradual ascent 
for two or three miles, a steep zigzag climb brings you to the 
top of the ridge overlooking the Burzil valley. There is a grand 
view from here of the Tilail valley, and of the snowy peaks in the 
neighbourhood of the Kargeh pass. The northern slopes of this 
ridge are, as usual, well clothed with forest. The descent to the 
Burzil valley is through forest all the way, and the path is a very 
steep one. The village of Surwin is on the left bank of the Burzil 
stream, and or. the opposite side is the road to Gilgit. I reached 
Gurais on the f3lIowing day. 
What is known as the Gurais valley is in reality only a wide 
stretch of the Kishenganga valley. It is about four miles long 
and one mile across in some parts. The slopes facing th» north 
are covered with spruce and silver fir, and pine trees form an 
irregular belt b.dow. On the opposite side are steep limestone 
mountains, which rise to over 6,000 feet above the valley. Scattered 
here and there on the cliffs are a few juniper trees, and the lower 
slopes are covered with Artemisia maritima, which gives the 
