[Sculptured rocks near Kojhuk:  m406.jpg]

We observed here a new partridge, at least one to which we were not accustomed; it is almost the size of chakor, black on the back, with a grey neck, and very shy; chakors abundant here in coveys.  The valley of the Erak is very narrow, but well cultivated, and with a good many villages.

All the mountains in this direction have rounded shapes or outlines, the precipices variously curved, the surfaces are thus formed by the action of water on the outer strata; when this is once exposed, the changes appear often rapid, as may be imagined in a country of such low winter temperature.  Caves occur in the Erak valley, chiefly situated in a dirty white conglomerate.

[Erak ravine:  m407.jpg]

8th.—­Halted and encamped eight miles up the Erak ravine on a swardy spot:  the road easy, ascent bad in some places, but generally good, particularly for the latter part of the march:  the rocks in some places rising in abrupt rugged cliffs, generally rounded, slaty.  We passed one mass of snow about two miles from camp, botany good, especially about the snow; so much so, that it employed me all day.

Caragana appears at about 10,000 feet, a Tamerioid of large stature in abundance, Asphodelus, not as I thought a Mesembryanthemum, but a beautiful and very distinct species; see Catalogue for other plants.

Our camp is within one and a half mile of the head of the Erak ravine, where snow occurs in two large masses; patches of snow also occur on the ridge or a little below it; these ridges rise about 1,200 to 1,500 feet above us.

Unsettled evening, snow during night on all the ridges about us with frozen sleet in camp.  Thermometer at 6 A.M. 31 degrees.

Large round-tailed eagle seen.

Barometer 20.164, thermometer 61 degrees; boiling point of Wollast. new thermometer; barometer 650, old ditto 555.3.

Swardy plants.  Parnassia, Swertia, Gentiana, Carices, Composita coronata, Primula, Labiata, Menthoides, Caprifoliacea!  Pedicularis, Umbelliferae.

Plants of hill sides Asphodelus, Leguminosae alter, a Nakhood Moschata, Nakhood Labaria violacea, Mulgedioid, Euphorbia, Astragalus prior, alter., Pedicularis, Onosma versicolor, Boraginea, stamens exserted.

9th.—­Proceeded to Kurzar, eight miles up a ravine to the left or eastward, about one and a half mile, then the steep ascent of the pass; thence the descent was as steep for 800 feet, then gradually down a swardy ravine until we came to the Kurzar ravine, which we followed till we reached the Choky.  The road good; the ascent for 1,000 feet is very steep, the soil good, hills rounded, here and there slate rocks outcropping.  No change in vegetation.  Passed a mass of snow:  abundance of snow on the summit where the mercury in the Bar. stood at 19.200; thermometer 58 degrees; boiling point of Wollast. new thermometer; Bar. 648.5, old 539.1, this being the highest spot we have visited.