6th.—­Proceeded six and a half miles to near the ruins of an old tope; first, down the nullah, then by the fort of Futtygurh, a Hindoostanee mud fort with high parapets, two lines of works, and a pucka citadel with embrasures for guns on a commanding mound:  thence we passed over a gentle slope with a good many scattered Bheirs, Kureels, AErua, Mudar, etc. to camp, where the ground is very rough and stony, abundant water obtained from a cut with sheets of maize cultivation.  Fossil shells, Pterocles, found in arenaceous limestone (Durand).

7th.—­To Peshawur, eight and a half miles, over a sandy plain; road bad, intersected with cuts and ravines; three canals had to be crossed by small bridges which occasioned a good deal of delay to the camels.  Passed the Seikh lines, between the fort and north face of town, and encamped on east face opposite the Governor’s house:  three gibbets were passed, with twelve persons hanging from them, some of old date.

In the evening we had a gay party at M. Avitabili’s, who is a fine looking man, with an intelligent Italian countenance.

In a room gaudily decorated and painted, was the following very appropriate motto—­

      Donec eris felix multos numerabis amicos. 
      Tempora si fuerunt nubila, solus eris.

If this was true in Rome, and is true in Europe, to what extent does its truth not reach in this country.  In the evening we were entertained with dancing and fireworks; excellent dinner and admirable bread.

14th.—­To-day the atmosphere is hazy, but the snowy range is not topped with clouds.  It is curious enough that the part which is most exposed to our view, and which bears about north-east, is generally clouded throughout the hotter parts of the day, while apparently equally high peaks in other directions remain clear.

It is curious that in Khorassan remarkably few climbing plants occur, and of these, the chief form is Cuscuta.

Botany here at this season is a non-entity, in the marsh close to the fort, there occur some few plants, the chief European forms being Veronica.  Ranunculus sceleratus is now coming into flower, Typha angustifolia abounds, with Arundo, also Sparganium, Sium, Butomus trigonifolius common; otherwise Cyperaceae, Epilobium out of season!  Ranunculus aquaticus is most abundant; two species of Chara, or rather 1 Chara, and 1 Nitella, the last a beautiful species, Marsilea in profusion, Azolla common, Lemna two or three species, one new, a floating Marchantiacia, Nelumbium occurs, but only as a cultivated plant.

Of two Boreal, or European forms found in sub-tropical countries, that form is the most northern which flowers, etc. in the coldest season, hence Veronica and Ranunculus are more northern than Epilobium in this particular district.  The most elevational plant at Cabul is Cardaminoidea, floribus luteis, this flowers at high altitudes in August and September, and at Cabul shows no symptom of flowering even in October; it is there a winter plant?  The same is true of Hippuris, which to flower at Cabul requires a greater degree of cold than is obtainable during the summer months.