25th.—­Bushore is a miserable place, consisting of the usual mud houses and defences:  the adjacent nullah does not invite attention; it is however the only seat of wells, which, as in all this country since leaving Rogan, are of small diameter, from thirty to forty feet deep, and contain very little water, which also is rather brackish and well impregnated with sand.  The surrounding country is so barren that it may be called a desert, while the desert itself may be called the desert of deserts.  I should mention that this ceases first to the west, in which direction shrubs encroach on it. Phulahi, Evolvulus acanthoides, Tribulus, Kureel, etc. are found about Bushore, but the prevailing plant is Chenopodium cymbifolium.

26th.—­Leaving Bushore, we proceeded to Joke, which we reached late, it being nineteen miles:  we lost the road however, which is in a direct line only sixteen miles.  We soon came on a nullah, or canal, which we followed to Meerpore, a rather large double village, with a nice grove of Furas, situated on the dry river Naree, which is as contemptible in size as deficient in water, this is only procurable by digging wells of thirty feet deep, and even then in small quantity.  Before reaching it, we passed several villages, mostly deserted and ruined.

The country is frightfully bare of wood; the chief plant is Chenopodium cymbifolium, and along the canal lemon grass, Kureel, Rairoo, Joussa, Ukko, Bheir, etc.; near Meerpore a Centaurea, and Evolvulus acanthaceus.  But along the nullah some wood may be found, stunted though it be, it is chiefly Rairoo.  We left Meerpore and proceeded about one and a half mile from Joke, following the nullah until we came on a canal in which, from a bund having been thrown across, there was a puddle or two of water.  Here we halted.  Much remains of cultivation is presented about this, chiefly Bagree, which is perennial.  Durand tells me that the sprouts of the second year are poisonous to cattle, i.e. horses; but this report may have been given out purposely by the natives.  Along the river, Jhow and Furas occur, in the naked plains, Chenopodium cymbifolium, Rairoo, and a few Kureel, but they are so naked as to afford little fodder for the camels:  there is a little cultivation of mustard, and Taira meera.  The hills are about twenty miles off, and appear about 4,000 feet high, they are precipitous, but the outline is not rugged:  they appear perfectly barren.  Those to the north which run nearly east and west are more distant.  No new birds were seen; rock pigeons occur.  The soil would be rich if water were abundant:  in the Bagree fields it is of a cloddy kind.

Reseda, Euphorbia, Salsola lanata, Chenopodium cymbifolium, Evolvulus, Panicum, and Andropogon occur here. Jowaree sells at twelve seers a rupee, and Khurbee is very dear.  A large plain occurs here covered with Gramen Panicum, which is in tufts, and has the appearance of being cultivated.