On emerging from this we reached the tope of Jugdulluck, now a grove of mulberry trees, surrounded by the remains of a wall.

The country, until we entered the gorge, presented the same features as before, being frightfully barren.  Passed a spring of water at the foot of the main descent where there is level ground sufficient for a small party, afterwards we passed a smaller spring containing less water, but situated in much better ground than Barikab.

The vegetation of undulated ground continues unchanged, very poor and stunted; in ravines below the main descent, Stipa is very common; in others, a large Andropogon occurs near the mouth of the gorge along the bed of the river, also Jhow in patches, and one patch of Donax.

The vegetation of the gorge is more varied; two small trees occur, one the Khinjuk, and it is the commonest, the other a Terebinthacea; Thymelaea of Chiltera is common, Ephedra, Ilex occurs but is less common than on hills.

Along the water to which it gives exit, and which is abundant, the usual Cyperaceae, Junceae, Gnaphalium, Potentilla, and Epilobium occur as at Cabul; the place is chiefly remarkable for two or three Saccharoid grasses, Stipa common, Polypogon, Donax, Dracocephala of Quettah and the Bolan pass, Spiraea, Typha, young Tamarisks.

Chakor, large vulture, ravens; a woodcock rose from a dripping rock, covered with a tropical Andropogon in dense patches.  Adiantum, Rubus, Erythrea, Labiatae two, common; Salix.

The gorge appears to be a distinct formation of sandstone, slate, and limestone:  on the way to it, we continued over the sand and conglomerate hill, which again recur at Jugdulluck, with plenty of Holly.

The Sofaid-Koh is visible from the main ridge:  it is a ridge running perhaps SW. to NE., tolerably covered with snow, as barren as any others:  a few fir trees are found in the direction of Tazeen:  are these confined to the sandstone formation? little grass, a few rice fields, bad forage.

[Pass and gorge, Barikab to Jugdulluck:  m414.jpg]

12th.—­Halted at Jugdulluck.  Small partridges are common:  observed a curious Certhioid creeper, whose flight is like that of the Hoopoe; it is scandent over rocks.

13th.—­To Soorkhab, twelve and a half miles over a similar country:  region of Hollys continues; we first passed up a ravine, then over undulating ground, until the summit of the pass is reached.  From this a fine view of Sofaid-Koh is obtained, the lower ranges in some places being black with firs; thence a continued descent, varied here and there by small ascents over undulating ground, we at length came to a ravine filled with bulrushes:  we followed this, leaving it near the halting place, and winding over rocky ground and a bad road, we descended to the bed of the river.  The road good, though stony here and there, but nowhere so, to such an extent, as the previous marches.