After this the country traversed seemed to be well cultivated:  and even picturesque.

The fort is nothing particular; it is placed on the right bank of the river, which is deep, narrow and raviny:  descent to the river abrupt.  The bridge very richly ornamented, and of curious and simple Bootan timber construction.

Town small, and the people very civil:  I lodged in Meer Alum’s own house.

Iris crocifolia abundant, towards Chugur, a Mazus or Stemodia.

Mimosa that of the Khyber, common, Polygoni in abundance on the rocks, Dodonaea.

The hills about Pushut are here only recognisable in two instances, the central one presenting three peaks, next to it the barren cliff, and the three mountains south-west of Dhurrah.

3rd.—­Proceeded to Bala Chugur Serai, which is not more than six miles up the river, occasionally passing along the stony bank under hills, otherwise over cultivation, which is conducted in terraces.

The scenery pretty, reminding me of low parts of Bootan, although much more barren; watercourses well made:  two kafir ruins passed; valley very narrow, but rather straight.  Both chakor and small partridges common.  Vegetation is here the same as elsewhere.  Zaitoon trees, Mimosa, Euonymus, Dodonaea, Amygdalus in abundance, Polygonum of yesterday.

The stony slopes of hills, covered with Andropogoneous grasses.  Rice, beans, wheat, oranges, toot, chanra.  Narcissus in swarms, brought in from the kafirs.

Another bridge was here crossed, the same as at lower Chugur Serai.  No tributaries passed, the river fordable at rapids, but the road is not passable for guns.

Aquila, Enicurus, Alcedo bengalensis common, as well as jack snipe.

Red-billed crow, chakor, yellow wagtail, Fringilla, Muscicapa in flocks, feeding in the fields, and from trees on insects.

The blackbird of the Himalayas, wild pigeons.  Narcissus in abundance in sandy fields, Cryptandrioid, Clematis, Rubus, Euonymus, Pteris!

We had an interview with the kafirs or infidels about a mile below Katoor, they seemed at first much alarmed, our retinue not being small or unarmed, and their reliance on Mussulman faith not very strong.  They took up their post at the foot of a hill where a deputation of the Khan of Chugur Serai, (who has married a Chief’s daughter) met them; they received the deputation with a feu de joie from one or two firelocks, and then accompanied him to us, preceded by two drums, one of ordinary, the other of an hour-glass shape, and two pipes of gramineous culm, with three or four holes, and apparently oblique mouth-pieces, but of ordinary sound.  The Chiefs, the head of whom is Hussin Ali’s father-in-law, having been introduced, advanced, and commenced turning and stamping round a circle.

The usual formalities then took place; the followers, although a fine bodied people, and very active, were excessively dirty, and not very fair; most were dressed in skins, having the hair inside, armed with bows, either straight or like cow’s horns, and daggers.