The surface is often rendered rugged in places by the occurrence of loose slabs, which give the appearance of stratification to the rocks.

It appears to me that the whole of the extreme eastern Khorassan originally was a bed of stones or boulders, overlying a formation of pure sand, and that its irregular surface is due to the subsequent upheavement of the foundation ridges.  The good soil is in such case necessarily confined to the immediate neighbourhood of the streams, etc. descending from those ridges.

The following is a section exposed on the north boundary of the valley, not far from Jugdulluck:—­

[Section of valley near Jugdulluck:  m476.jpg]

The whole tract is devoid of trees, until one nears Jugdulluck, when not only the foundation rocks, but also the stony undulated hills are dotted with stunted trees of Baloot and Xanthoxylon.  Tufted Andropogoneous grasses form the prevailing feature, AErua also is common along the streams:  and wherever the ground retains moisture, Typha latifolia abounds with the usual frequenters of watery spots.  The road to Gundamuck, especially the ascent of the two last steppes, is infamous; but the regular Jallalabad road is good, having only one descent to Neemla, and an easy ascent from that place, and thence it is over a gentle declivity to Futtehabad.

The spurs from the Sofaid-Koh are very numerous, and the ravines they form show the great quantity of water derived from this ridge, their direction is N. 45, E. The direction of the streams after emerging from the lower ridges continues about the same.

The Cabul and Soorkhab rivers debouche at a much greater angle.  Their direction being 95, E. The waters of both are turbid, but those of the latter are reddish.

Throughout the valley of Jallalabad cultivation extends alone along the streams, many of which are entirely consumed by agricultural processes; in no place does it bear any proportion to the uncultivated portion, which is invariably densely strewed with stones, the smaller of which are generally water-worn; the larger, masses of angular rock.

White mulberries ripen in perfection at Gundamuck in the early part of July.  There is more cultivation about Khuggur occurring in a continuous and broadish tract, than in almost any other place.

I observed a curious tendency to anastomosis, or self-grafting in the roots of Morus:  this in its young state often has pinnatifid artacarpoid leaves.  Query, is this a sign of the greater development of Morus? or is it in any way analogous to that progressive development existing during the growth of every animated being?

At Gundamuck observed Oriolus; it differs in plumage and voice from the Indian Mango bird, which is a far more beautiful bird, with only one note:  Edolius also seen.

Pastor and the other common birds.  Merops was seen soaring over stones, and stooping at insects; in such situations it remains long on the wing; it does not appear to perch on any thing but withered branches.