“Early in July I proceeded to Cabul for change of air, and as soon as I recovered a little strength, started to join Lieut.  Sturly, who was surveying on the Toorkistan frontier.  I met that Officer at Syghan the day he left to prosecute his surveys, which had been interrupted by the Kamard disturbances:  he was recalled to Syghan, in consequence of heavier and more serious disturbance.

“I returned to Cabul, as I found it impossible to proceed beyond Syghan, and then waited with impatience for a season that would enable me to cross the Punjab without great risk to my still debilitated constitution.

“My establishment of collectors consisted of unintelligent Affghans, who were particularly prone to abrupt abscondings, and my supplies of materials and carriage very limited.

“The botanical collection is as extensive as could be expected from the nature of the country and the climate.  It is in excellent order, consisting of about 1500 species, and a great number of duplicates.  This collection has been formed on the principles which have guided me on former travels.  Those principles I conceive to require the collection of every form in numbers, and in various localities, so that the geographical limits of each may be estimated, and the examination be open.  They also require information as to habitat, locality, climate, whether the plants are gregarious or not, and whether they contribute to giving peculiar features to the country.  I do not hesitate to say that this collection contains almost all the plants that existed in flower or fruit along the line of march of the army between Cabul and Syghan, about Chugur-Serai, Otipore, and Pushut, and in the neighbourhood of Khaggah.

“The extent over which it was formed is about 1,600 miles, and on the variety of geographical position a considerable part of its value depends.  If the plants between Cabul and Peshawur are less rich, as my journeys between those cities always occurred at unfavourable seasons, the deficiency has been lessened by my friend Dr. Ritchie.

“The Ornithological portion of the collection, consists of about 350 specimens, is in good order, and contains many objects of interest, valuable for throwing some light on the geographical distribution of birds.

“To the fish of the various tracts I paid considerable attention, but owing to the difficulties of travelling and of climate, the collection has suffered severely.  At Shikarpore I made an extensive collection of the fish of the Indus.  I had collected most of the fish of the river, of the Bolan Pass, of the streams of Quettah, and of the Urghundab, near Candahar, unfortunately I relied too much on the preservative powers of alcohol.  Subsequently I took the additional precaution of preserving skins separately; and it is to these which amount to about 150 specimens, that the collections are chiefly limited.  The collections contain the fish of the Cabul river, between its source near Sir-i-Chushme, and Peshawur, of the Helmund at an altitude of 11,500 feet, of the Bamean river, and of the Chenab, Ravee, and Sutledge.