elty; all the plants
about the hills at Candahar continue: Dianthoid, Statice, Paederia
villosa. Cultivation along the Turnuk, melons in small trenches, the
crops are now cut, _Jhow_ or _gaz_ along the bank: but there is not much
water. The hills around are apparently of limestone, very picturesque,
and presenting very fine cliffs. The valley of the Turnuk is here very
narrow, and the country very arid looking, completely burnt up. _Joussa_
rather scarce, _doob_ grass occurs along the river, the water of which is
discoloured.

_30th_.--Proceeded to Shair-i-Suffa, ten miles and six furlongs. The
country continues the same. The road extending along the right bank of
the Turnuk, over undulating ground for one and a half or two miles, is
bad, very narrow, and overhanging the steep bank of the river, scarcely
passable for wheel carriages without preparation. Vegetation continues
precisely the same: little verdure to be seen even along the Turnuk: the
hills desperately barren; a high mound occurs in middle of the valley
near our halting place, well adapted for a fort, but unoccupied. Small
fields of cultivation are now seen. A small species of mullet occurs in
the river: thermometer 101 degrees at 1 P.M. in the tent.

Nothing can exceed the barren aspect of this valley, which is near Khet-i-
Ahkoond, but at several miles distance, a few trees are visible in nooks:
the only green along the banks of the river, is occasioned apparently by
Tamarisk: the hills are picturesque, rugged, varied with bold cliffs, the
valleys are changed in structure, being now occupied by rounded undulated
ground, instead of hollow basins.

[River Turnuk banks: m363.jpg]

_July 1st_.--Proceeded ten miles, and halted on the Turnuk within one
mile of the tower of Tirandaz. The country continues precisely the same:
the road at first is bad, owing to the inhabitants having tried to flood
it. At a distance of six miles we ascended a small defile without any
difficulty; the remainder of the march being over undulating stony
ground: the valley then becomes narrow, and we again enter into the
arable part, which is especially narrow. The hills present the same
aspect. _Joussa_ very abundant, and also Artemisia, and a Salsoloides
flore ochroleuco. No villages are visible. We are unable to judge of
the extent of cultivation, because the country, which seems uniformly
dried up, is rugged and bouldery: on the right is the old bed of the
river, c