20th.—­Continued up the same defile, a gradual ascent, and about two miles from Sirekhugoor entered the pass by pre-eminence; very much narrowed, precipitous cliffs on both sides:  this continues for some time.  The road good, shingly, but not very bouldery; very winding, and generally capable of strong defence; much cover exists from the rugged margins of cliffs, and windings of the road.  The mountains, after four or five miles were passed, gradually receded and became less precipitous:  at length we came to gradually rounded more distant mountains; then to a small valley; then ascended say 100 feet, over a low rocky range, and descended into a fine valley, surrounded by usual barren looking mountains:  high ranges to the north and south covered with snow presenting a beautiful view—­and now entered Khorassan.  We were accompanied by several bands of a gypsyish-looking people, forming parts of a cafilah.  They were accompanied with numerous goats:  and camels ornamented with trappings.

Throughout the very narrow portion of the pass the vegetation continues the same:  at Sirekhugoor a Xanthoxylon appears and continues nearly throughout:  this and an oleinous looking small tree are the only arborescent plants:  Apocynum viminale and the other plants of Sirekhugoor continue, nor did I notice any new ones further than a Sedum, and Tortula.  However fragrant Labiatae and Compositae increase in number, but none are in flower.

As soon as we opened out from the pass, the vegetation almost entirely changed; the hills assumed a rounded form, covered with low bushes, and were much less rocky.  Umbelliferae, Labiatae, and Compositae abound, some of them deliciously fragrant:  an Astragaloid spinosus very common, a shrubby Cerasus, Thalictrum, Hypoxis, and small Cruciferae abundant.  The chief vegetation consists of grasses in low round tufts; Anemone, Tulipa, etc. all small.  After crossing a low range we came into the valley, which is almost entirely covered with an Artemisioid odoriferous plant; no verdure was visible, even on the snowy ranges.  We encamped close under a ridge about two and a half miles to the north of the summit of the pass.

21st.—­Halted:  there being some water collected in attempts to form a nullah from the last rain, it is quite brownish and opaque, but deposits no sediment, and makes good tea, although disagreeable to drink in any other form.  I walked out in the afternoon into a valley to the west, close to our encampment, and thence ascended a hill 600 feet high at least.

This valley like the one in which we are encamped is covered entirely by an Artemisioid, a very fragrant plant, each shrub of which is distinct; mixed with it are tulips, several small Cruciferae, and a Fritillarioides.