19th.—­Advanced to Sirekhugoor, distance nineteen miles, ascent throughout on a considerably inclined plain up the bed of a river, shingly and bouldery; the pass is not much contracted, but a short distance from Abigoom we parted from every thing like valleys.  The vegetation continues much the same:  Kureel, Salsola prima re-occurred near Abigoom but sparingly, chief vegetation consists of clumps of withered coarse Andropogons, Nerioides, Paederia, and Lycium, but less common than before, while Apocynum viminale, and Convolvulus spinosus have increased.  The bed of the streamlet is until near Sirekhugoor, chiefly occupied by a large Arundo just past flowering, in which Typha also occurs sparingly:  within 300 feet of the halting place, a solitary Khujoor, and some wheat cultivation occurs, the latter much behind that of Abigoom.  In the fields Polygala occurred with a Galium; the most common plant being a Sinapis found at Dadur:  some Bheir trees also occur here; a few Compositae, Labiatae, and Cruciferae, similar to those at Abigoom, are also found:  the novelties were Peganum which continues throughout the pass, Hyoscyamoid, and one or two Compositae; while in water-courses close to it the first dripping rocks occurred covered with Adiantum and fructiferous mosses, and a curious Primuloid plant out of flower, with a curious Clematis.

The halting place is at the head of the stream, which gushes copiously out of a rock; the bed of the river or defile is 100 yards wide:  the mountains immediately adjoining not exceeding 1,000 feet in height, but the second range is much higher, that to our north being plentifully sprinkled with snow.  These mountains are barren, chiefly covered with Convolvulus spinosus, which has a different aspect, with a Sytisoid, handsome silvery shrub, a species of Caragana and Apocynum viminale:  about the spring and in other places there are thick patches of a very dwarf palm, and a solitary fig tree, a Lycium album continues:  the bed occupied by tufts of coarse Andropogons and Apocynum viminale; about the spring Adiantum, a small Boraginia, white flowered small Compositae, a withered Hepaticum, two or three efructiferous mosses, and the Primuloid plant.  In the stream Chara, Conferva, Peppermint, Beccabunga, Convolvulus, like C. reptans, Arundo left behind nearly.  On the mountains fragrant Labiatae, Compositae, and Umbelliferae are commencing.  The barometer stood at 25.669; thermometer 64 degrees at 11 A.M.  Many soft rocks occurred:  passed a clayey looking one, with very elevated strata, containing veins of transverse crystals:  the sides of the defile are often precipitous, these are generally formed of conglomerate.