_From Peshawur to Lahore_.
_October 14th_.--Peshawur.--Cucurbitaceae. The petals of cucurbita
were observed in one instance united along two of the corollal sinuses to
the staminal column, alternating with the smaller stamina; the processes
were produced upwards into petaloid appendages.
_17th_.--Proceeded to Nowshera. As far as Pubbe the road extended
chiefly through a cultivated country, thence as far as could be judged at
night, over a plain country covered with coarse grass, and here and there
(whenever a sufficiently gravelly surface occurred) among the thick of
_Bheir_, which is here used for fences; Mudar, AErua, Nerioides and
Adhatoda occurred; _Furas_ a common tree.
_18th_.--Reached Khairabad. The same kind of country as about Nowshera,
stony or sandy, with extensive tracts covered with _Bheir_, Mudar, and
AErua as before, Mimosa common towards Geedur Gulli, and on it also
Kureel, which appears for the first time as it was not seen about
Jumrood. On to-day's march many grasses are apparent, the pale
Saccharoid grass of Jugdulluck common, a species of Cynodon (given to me
by Dr. Ritchie at Dhukk) very common, a Pommereullioid, a curious
Schoenanthus, a Poa, all are coarse and cover a large tract towards
Geedur Gulli: Barleria spinosa appears.
Geedur Gulli is a ravine winding in and out in a curious manner among low
hills at the north-west end of what is called the Afredi Spur. Mimosa
very common, Kureel, Dodonaea and Edgeworthia, neither very common, but
Moarcurra and Euonymus are both rather common. _Mudar_ common; some
Andropogons, of which one is the same as that of the Khyber. _Bheir_
very common, also a Mimosa like the common _Babool_, but flowers
unscented. Chokeys, or police stations are situated along the whole line
of road to Peshawur. Adhatoda common at the entrance to Geedur Gulli
where the scenery is rather pretty; Adiantum common on banks near the
water; the hills of Geedur Gulli are rather thickly sprinkled with wood.
The Cabul river is here a large stream, with a moderate confined bed
between high banks on which Akora and Khairabad are situated. The view
of the Indus from Geedur Gulli presents a desolate look of sand, which
extends over a large space visible through a break in the hills to the
north. The passage of the Indus through the Attock range seen from the
same point is curious; but general remarks on scenery can be of no use,
except when they are founded on an intimate acquaintance with the
country. The most natural course, i.e. one less impeded by mountains,
would seem to be to the east instead of south.
[Diagram of Attock Range: m491.jpg]
Mulberry, Salix angustifolia, or willow, and _Buckein_, were seen at
Attock. The scenery is not however bold, but on the contrary very poor
compared with the defiles of the Irrawadi. The hills are low, rounded,
and present no precipices of striking dimensions. An old fort situated
near the junction of the rivers is a handsome looking building, but
completely commanded. A large Serai or place for travellers is situated
near it to the north. The water of the Indus is muddy, but presents
nothing remarkable in temperature. The analogous points between the
Indus and Irrawadi consist in defiles and the want of branches for a long
way above their mouths. Jackdaws were the first old acquaintances I met
with on entering Peshawur; and the common kite, the Affghan one not
having the same thrilling cry that the Indian one has; grey partridges
are found about Nowshera; as also Kuchaloo or Yams.
_19th_.--Proceeded over the plain to Chuch and Khot-bha, winding along
the Attock hill round to the fort, and passing the Serai, and another
smaller one in ruins near the plains, thence over level ground to within
two miles of Bhowli, where conspicuous trees were observed, otherwise the
plain is rather barren, a few _Bheirs_ and some Phoenix only occurring
about villages on hills. The vegetation is the same. Chuch plain, where
not cultivated, is covered with short coarse grasses, Andropogoneae.
Among these a large-leaved Salvia occurs. The forms presented by the
vegetation are however very little diversified. Mudar, a small-fruited
Kochia, like that of Jallalabad; Boerhaavia very common.
Cultivation is conducted in _Bheir_ fences, and consists of Indian-corn,
_Bajra_, and cotton.
From the Attock hills, the Indus is seen much divided by beds of sand,
and churs or islands covered with a large purple Saccharum. Peganum
continues to Attock and even extends beyond.
Water plants of Chuch, Trapa, Valisneria verticillata, and Nymphaea.
Shumshbad.--This town lies to the left of the road, one mile in the rear
of my encampment.
The spines of Barleria are evidently axillary, as is seen in young
branches, probably they represent the lower pair of leaves of the lateral
branches, the terminal parts of which have a tendency to develop.
The spines of Mimosa belong evidently to the same exertion as the leaf;
they are connate at the base, and from the centre of this hardened part,
arises the leaf; they may be either the lower pinnae, or they may be
_spurious_ stipulae. The leaves developed within the true ones belong to
an ill-developed branch. True stipulae are leaves with a distinct
origin. Spurious stipulae belong to their leaves, as is evident from
their not having a distinct origin.
_20th_.--Hussun Abdul. Until we came near the Boorhan valley, the road
passed over a high, dry, sandy plain, with no cultivation, and no water,
then the descent took place through picturesque raviny ground with a few
isolated mounds, to a fine clear stream. The remaining part extended
either along the cultivation of the Boorhan valley, or through similar
raviny ground. Two streams were passed, the last is the Hussun Abdul
river.
The vegetation of the high plain continues the same. _Bheir_, Mimosa,
_Kureel_, AErua, Mudar, Andropogoneae, Pommereullia, OEgilops, Salvia,
and Crotalaria aphylla.
Among the ravines and thence to Hussun Abdul, a new feature presents
itself in the frequency of a largish Mimosa, probably that of the Khyber
pass. This forms prettily wooded scenery, the white thorned Mimosa also
occurs, Moacurra none, Euonymus, _Bheir_.
About Boorhan a Ficus becomes very common, Achyranthes, Kochia fructibus
parvis, Salvia, Serratuloid of Ali-Baghan and Ichardeh. Paganum
common--Adhatoda and Vitex. In scenery the country is pretty,
particularly after passing the last river: a dampish spot was passed at
Bhowli: a large Acacia, Melanoxylon and Pteris were found on the river
banks. Dodonaea seen on low hills near Bhowli, as also Adiantum. Started
at 5 hours 40 minutes and reached at 11.30; distance at least eighteen
miles.
Hussun Abdul, is a pretty place, particularly the broken ground about the
sacred stream, and the tank, in which Mahaseers abound; the water
beautiful, many trees occur, especially Morus, Salix and Ficus.
Zyziphus is a fine tree here, Phoenix, Khuggur, Bukkein, Ficus, and
Cupressus occur.
The jackdaw, _mina_, blue and chesnut kingfisher, a noisy bird. The
small kingfisher, black and white kingfisher common: Myophonus,
Pomatorrhinus.
_21st_.--The chief cultivation here is _bajra_, and Zea maize. The
former produces a second crop from branches; hence it is left standing
after the top spike, which is the largest, is picked; vegetation chiefly
Indian, very few Affghan forms remaining, those of the hills are Mimosa,
Adhatoda, and Euonymus.
The water plants are all decidedly tropical; no Epilobium seen since
leaving Peshawar: Eclipta, Cyperaceae.
Trichodesma, Cannabis.
Fish have few engaging habits, the tame Mahaseers take no notice of any
one until food is thrown to them.
Tagetes, _Sud Buruk_, is a curious genus, on account of its simple
tubular involucrum, very entire and pappus florets, conduplicate in
aestivation, all florets faeminine are ligulate; are the folded up ones
representations of the males?
_22nd_.--To Janika Sung, seventeen miles: the country continues much the
same. The road passes out of _Hussun Abdul_ over a low stony
elevation, and enters another valley, the exit from which is through the
Maha Gullah: a large Serai is passed about two and a half miles from the
Boorgi; in the Gullah near this, is a portion of a formed road. Janika
Sung is a small village, about five miles from the Boorgi.
The face of the country is undulated, intersected by ravines, rather
thickly covered with the large Mimosa and _Bheir_: the same may be seen
in every direction.
Affghan plants have nearly ended, Moacurra and Euonymus alone continuing.
At the Maha Gullah a Carissa, and a _Zaitoon_, Ehretioides. This defile
is picturesque, the wood prettily contrasted with bits of grassy ground.
Adhatoda in abundance.
The Maha Gullah was formerly a notorious place for robbers, but is now
quite safe, which says much for the Seikh rule.
There was not much cultivation passed to-day, although most of the
surface is fit for it: water is near the surface. The Maha Gullah range
is composed of limestone.
The white-spined Mimosa and crooked-spined one change places, the former
occupies uncultivated plains, the latter stony, undulated, or hilly
ground.
Carissa certainly represents Jasminum.
On the Kaliki Serai plain the chief plant is Mimosa albispina, then
_Bheir_--here and there patches of Leguminosa, like the Cytisoides, so
common in Affghanistan. In the _Bheir_ thickets Schoenanthus is common;
Andropogon and Pommereullioid also occur.
In the Hussun Abdul river there is a species of Perilampus approaching to
Leuciscus, but with faint bars. In the sacred stream there is a small
Cyprinoid, probably a Systomus, with a conspicuous spot on either side
near the tail: there is also a small loach.
The Mahaseer in the water is a handsome fish, the edges of the scales
being then blackish, as is also the longitudinal line.
It is curious that all plants hitherto found parasitical on roots, have
no green leaves; to this, marked exceptions exists in Cuscuta and
Cassytha, such true-leaved parasites being found only on the ascending
axis; this rule is so permanent, that species of certain genera, such as
Burmannia, the bulk of which are not parasitical, have no leaves. The
mode of attachment of all parasitical plants is I think the same,
otherwise I should suspect the above difference to point to a marked one
in the nature of the fluid derived from the stock: thus leafless plants
might be supposed to induce no particular change in the fluid they
imbibe, while the others might be supposed to elaborate their own from
that of the stock.
There is another very remarkable circumstance connected with the most
typical leafless parasites, in their very frequent limitation to the
genus Cissus, on which perhaps all Rafflesiaceae and Cynomorieae are
exclusively found.
My chief reason for supposing Sarcocodon to be Monocotyledonous, or
rather Endogenous, is the ternary division of its parts, and if my
supposition be correct, it tends to establish, if indeed other ample
evidence did not exist, the great permanence and consequent value of this
numerical character.
And with respect to Sarcocoidalis I shall adopt the same opinion, if I
find on enquiry that a binary number, and imperfection of the female as
compared with the male, are more characteristic of Endogenous than of
Exogenous growth. This same genus I consider in both these characters to
allude to some analogy with one or more Acrogenous divisions.
The establishment of the order of Rhizanths, as well as that of
Gymnosperms, I consider as a retrograde step in Botanical science. It is
totally opposed to all sound principles of classification, and is a proof
that, in the nineteenth century, arbitrary characters are still sought
for, and when found are obstinately maintained.
Even in the arbitrary character, which is considered as destructive of
all their other claims to ordinary vegetable rank, there is no unison
whatever, for Rafflesiaceae have ordinary ovula, while Sarcocoidalis very
extraordinary.
The amount of testimony proving their analogy in germination to be with
Acrogens, must be very strong before I am convinced that plants with
perfect ovula as Rafflesia, etc. germinate from an indeterminate point,
the existence of an aperture in the coats, points in the most marked
manner to some part representing a radicle. With the exception perhaps
of Sarcocoidalis, these plants differ in no respect whatever from other
Phaenogamous vegetables; we have instances of the same parasitical
growth, and instances of the same apparent want of a radicle or
homogeneousness of embryo, and in the structure of the parts of the
flower there is tolerably absolute general identity.
It may be worthy of remark, as tending to prove the soundness of Mr.
Brown's views with regard to the affinity of Rafflesia with Aristolochia,
that a certain large and fleshy flowered species of the latter genus has
the same putrescent smelling flowers.
In Rhizantheae, as proposed by Endlicher, we have an assemblage of
discordant characters; we have plants associated, differing in the number
of their parts; we have some of comparatively simple roots associated
with others of decidedly complex organization; we have Rafflesia in which
highly complex female parts exist, associated with Sarcocoidalis, in
which these are very simple. But besides the objection of combining
discrepancies on the strength of one agreement, the establishment of
divisions upon such pretexts is objectionable in another point of view;
viz., that of making a transition of structure on one point, instead of
in several.
We might as well form into one division all the ternarily formed
Dicotyledons, and into another all those Monocotyledonous plants with
evident distinction between the calyx and corolla.
But in addition to reasons founded on structure, I have this theoretical
one, that it is as requisite that Endogens should establish a similar
relation with Acrogens; otherwise a gradation exists between the first
and third classes, and none between the second and third, between which,
gradations ought to be the more frequent.
As Rafflesia approaches Aristolochia, so does Sarcocodon, Taccaceae.
_23rd_.--Rawil Pendi. The country continues much the same to within five
or six miles of this place, viz. high raviny ground, well covered with
Mimosa, _Bheir_, etc.
Thence to Pendi, the country is open, bare, and much cultivated. From
high ground near Pendi a considerable tract is visible, consisting of low
ridges running nearly due south, interrupted here and there, and
apparently quite bare.
_24th_.--To Manikyala, distance nineteen miles, over an elevated country,
with not much cultivation; broken ground occurs here and there,
especially near the river Hoomook, now a small stream, the road winding
through Mimosa jungle. _Moacurra_, _Bheir_, Euonymus.
At a place about three miles from Manikyala, are the remains of a Serai
now in ruins. From this to Metope, the road extends over an open country
capable of cultivation, but neglected. Water in wells is thirty feet
perhaps below the surface: the country about Tope very bare of trees.
A curious low chain of sandstone rocks here occurs, and occasionally
protrudes in places from below the soil, seldom rising above five feet
and occasionally dilated into undulated tracts.
Drill husbandry, (i.e. seeds sown after the plough,) seems much in
practice here. The late noise about improving pasture grasses has been
made with little reference to the nature of an Indian climate, or the
genius of the Indian people. Pasture grasses only excel in countries
where there is no division of climate into hot, rainy, and cold seasons;
but not in those in which rain is equally, or nearly so distributed
throughout the year. So far as I know, no place in India is calculated
for pasture grass cultivation, because as none of excellent kinds can
succeed without irrigation, this element of Indian agriculture is applied
to more profitable cultures, such as artificial grasses. In the cold
season and the rains, nature supplies _dhoob_ grass bountifully, leaving
the natives to apply their agricultural labour to other objects, and in
such seasons the condition of cattle is decidedly good.
Manikyala Tope, seen from near Rawil Pendi, is an insignificant building,
and presents the same architecture as other topes, and as the Cabul
tower, although it is not of the same materials. The lower part of the
base is of pure sandstone, the upper of a stalactital conglomerate of
small pebbles, often perforated. The terraces at the base are now almost
hid by rubbish, so that the whole looks like an overgrown dome or a low
mound. There are three stone ledges below, with flat pilasters between
the middle and lower ledge on the sides. The dome is much damaged. The
stones of which the building was erected, were not hewn inside, but I do
not know whether they have not been cemented together. Access is easy to
the top partly by means of broken steps, otherwise the stones gave good
footing. The top of the ruin is now open and discloses a square
_funnel_, penetrating half the height of building; thence modern
handiwork has caused a broken irregular perforation. The building is not
remarkable for great size, nor are any of the stones large, still as a
piece of architecture it is far superior to any thing in modern
Affghanistan. The country around is very bare and sufficiently open. It
is curious that there are many Indian plants found on or about the
building, all indicating a decided approach to Hindoostan. A Sida,
Euonymus, Bheir, Lantana, and a Menispermum, are common shrubs on the
building, also Solanum quercifolium, spinis albis floribus coeruleo
purpureis.
_25th_.--To Puttiana, seventeen to eighteen miles; the country much the
same, little wood but bushes of the old trees: it is tolerably open until
Pukkee Serai is approached, when it becomes very much broken and
intersected by ravines in every direction, showing most forcibly the
action of water, many of the cliffs thus formed are picturesque. At
Pukkee a small river is forded, thence to near Puttiana the country then
becomes almost as raviny as before.
AErua, Bheir, Mudar, a Kochia, much like one of the Cutch ones, and the
before-mentioned plants continue.
_26th_.--To Bukriala, twenty-two miles. From Puttiana the road is good,
extended over a high open country, except where it crosses two ravines;
the first of these containing a stream of water, about ten miles from
Puttiana. From Tammuch the road descends steeply into the Bukriala
Kakhudd ravine, which takes you to Bukriala.
This ravine runs through a system of sandstone hills, of a blueish muddy
aspect, and red clayey earth, often conglomerate. In colours not unlike
the Bamean district. Water is plentiful in pools throughout the lower
half of the road, which is all descent. Bukriala stands on the right
bank of the Khudd river towards its mouth, the vegetation about this
place resembles that of the open country, and is unchanged in the Khudd
river, consisting of Kochia, _Phulahi_, and Mimosa albispina, Euonymus,
_Bheir_, Adhatoda, Barleria, _Kureel_, and Capparis of Gundamuck; also
Pommereullioid, Andropogon, Schoenanthus, Holcus, and Stipa of Kuta Sung,
Carallunia, Grewia and Menispermum of Manikyala.
Also two plants not before seen, and neither common, one is a Butea,
leguminous velutino pubescent arbor, it is the _Chuchra_ of the natives,
and is used for paper. The other is a curious, leafless, scandent,
monocotyledon. Asparaginea, and an Apocynea.
Alhaji Maurorum is not found between this and Hussun Abdul, which is a
curious thing.
_27th_.--To Rotas. The country to Mittian is very much broken and
consequently difficult, consisting entirely of ups and downs: the road is
only practicable for cattle; the bad part of it commences with an abrupt
ascent. About Puttiana, four miles from Bukriala, it becomes better, but
it continues partially raviny until within four miles of Rotas, when the
country becomes open, and the road good.
Vegetation continues precisely the same, being still in the region of
_Phulahi_: observed the Asparaginea again, Euonymus continues, also
Astragalus, a Kochia, and an Affghan Chenopodium.
A beautiful _bhowli_ or spring is passed on the way two miles from Rotas,
it is covered with masonry, and the descent is by means of steps; the
water passes under large arches, a work worthy of the Mogul emperors.
Sissoo, Peroplocea of Bolan, common. Rotas is an immense irregular
fortress, with the usual faults: it is much too large, and situated on a
rocky plain partially commanded. It must have once contained a large
number of inhabitants. Nelumbium, Potamogeton: half a mile from Rotas
towards Peshawur, a square Serai, enclosing a garden, is passed.
The country immediately about it on the west is open: and well
cultivated: there is but little water in the river. The town or village
is of no size.
Butea not uncommon.
_28th_.--Proceeded to Jhilun. The road is at first steep, as it passes
down along the Rotas river, about three miles from thence it is good,
extending over a plain to the Jhilun. Fine cultivation observed on all
sides, and of various sorts, chiefly _Bajra_ and _Kureel_. Dhah
abundant, but not arborescent, Euonymus, Peganum, _Bheir_, and _Phulahi_,
the latter very dwarfish. Mimosa albispina and Adhatoda very common. The
commonest tree in these countries is _Bheir_, and a very handsome tree it
is; _Nihi-joari_ cultivated.
_Sun_ and _Tel_ occur, the last is very common. Yesterday a new
cultivation presented of a Composite plant, called _Kalizeen_, used as
spice or _musala_ for horses. The birds observed were Haematornis,
Crateropod, Sylvia, Alauda cristata, Alauda alia in flocks.
The town of Jhilun stands immediately on the right bank of the river of
that name, it is a large and flourishing place. The river is about 200
yards broad, not rapid, but here and there deep, and the bed at this
place forms one undivided channel. The right bank on which the town
stands has a stony sloping shore, the left is sandy.
It is a mistake to suppose that the hilly country ceases here, on the
contrary, it crosses the Jhilun. At the ferry this river runs through a
large valley, bounded to the west by hills like those to which we have
been accustomed; to the east it is bounded by a low chain, which runs
parallel with the general course of the river. The valley is open only
to the north and south.
Otters, tortoises, and Mahaseer were seen in the river.
_29th_.--To Sera, twenty-four miles, half the distance extended over the
uncultivated base of the hills, and then over the low range itself, from
which at two points, fine views are obtained of the vast plain of the
Punjab. Throughout this vast surface the vegetation is exactly the
same--Euonymus continuing, Peganum and _Phulahi_ forming chief
vegetation; numbers of white partridge occur.
In the plains _Dhah_ is found in profusion, especially where the
cultivation is not extensive. A new Acacia appears, the _Kikkur_,
forming groves about most of the villages. Noticed the Physaloides of
Lundykhanah. Encamped under a fine Mimosa and _Bheir_ near an old Serai
which forms part of the village, with a splendid view of the Himalayas
stretching away from east to west. It appears from this direction as if
there was only one low range between the plains and the culminating range
of the Himalayas. Nothing like these mountains has been seen in
Khorassan. The chief cultivation about here is _Nihi-joari_, then
_Bajra_--why is the former always bent?
Prickly pear common from where we crossed the Jhilun river.
A curious metamorphosis of Sesamum is of common occurrence: the calyx
being unchanged, while the corolla preserves somewhat its shape, but is
foliaceous, the other organs are much transformed, the ovary less so than
the stamina, but generally much enlarged; _ovules in leaves_ inside.
This is worthy of examination, as it shows very plainly the origin of the
stigmata from the placentae.
_30th_.--Halted owing to having been robbed of two horses.
_31st_.--Wuzerabad, twenty-four miles. Ten miles from Wuzerabad the road
extended through a highly cultivated country, and crossed the Chenab, on
the left bank of which river Wuzerabad is situated. The Chenab is a fine
river, the stream 150 yards wide, but on either side extensive beds of
sand show that the river during some seasons is of great width.
Wuzerabad is a nice well built town, having a fine straight bazaar, with
paved street. The chief gateways and residences built by General
Avitabile.
Chilodia occurs in abundance, Eleusine sp., E. coracana; _Bajra_ and
_Joari Nihi_ being the prevailing cultivation.
It is curious that in Phulahi major of Sera and the _Kikkur_, the young
branches only are armed with thorns, so that the spines must be deciduous
in certain species of Mimosa.
Cactus is an instance of a calyx composed of a congeries of adherent
leaves, which leaves produce from their axilla, tufts of white hair and
thorns; or is it not an instance of an axis hollowed out towards the
apex, to the sides of which the ovary finally adheres, in this case the
outermost series of the perianth will be calyx; one reason for adopting
this supposition, besides the axillary bodies, is that there is no
gradation between the small concave leaves of the calyx, and the outer
series of the perianth.
_November 1st_.--Halted for fishing: Cyorinus Mrigala, is the _Mhoori_
of these parts; it grows to a large size, is a handsome fish, and is
indeed considered the king of fishes by the Punjabees. The intestines
are in longitudinal folds of extremely small comparative diameter, and
enormous length; in a large specimen it is twenty-three times the length
of the body. The intestines of the _Mahaseer_ are on the other hand only
two and a quarter times the length of the body!
Of the fish obtained, two are Perilamps, here called _Rohi_,
5 or 6 Cyprinides,
4 or 5 Siluri,
2 Ophiocephali,
1 Esox.
Indeed I obtained a list of twenty-four species.
_2nd_.--To Goograuwala, twenty-four and a half miles, over a fine
populous generally cultivated country. Goograuwala is a large town,
having the streets paved with brick like those of Wuzerabad. Cactus very
common; _Kikkur_ (Mimosa) is the chief tree here about the _Fukeer's_
abodes. The Banyan also occurs.
Peganum and Kochia of Jallalabad continue. There is a fort of some size
close to this town, built of mud; the ditch is unfinished, and not deep,
it has a fau-se-braie, with bastions like those at Peshawur and Jumrood.
The surface of the ground is much broken close up to it, the earth being
taken away for bricks.
_3rd_.--Proceeded to Koori, an inconspicuous village, belonging to M.
Court; it is surrounded by extensive plains, on which a tall grass occurs
to a great extent. Distance twenty-eight and a half miles, the time
taken for to-day's journey was six and a quarter hours.
The country is precisely similar to that previously noticed, the only new
feature being the grassy plains, in which at some little distance from
Koori, deer, partridge, hares, etc. are said to abound.
A sissoo-like tree is not uncommon.
_4th_.--To Shah Durrah, twenty-three and a half miles at Nunzul, eight
miles from Shah Durrah, a fort with ditch out of repair was passed, at
Koori ten miles from Shah Durrah, passed a deep Nullah called Baghbuchah,
with high banks, thence entered on a tract of country covered with
Saccharum, (_Moong_), from which ropes are made; (this is the same as the
Chuch species,) we next entered on cultivation close to Shah Durrah,
which place is well wooded.
Mangoe trees, _Ams_, Eugenia Jambolana, _Jams_, _Bheirs_, Phoenix,
_Kikkur_, and Ficus, are the principal trees.
The grassy tracts of the Punjab represent probably the original
vegetation, existing now only here and there owing to the extension of
cultivation.
From Shah Durrah Lahore is visible, particularly the buildings of the
Mogul emperor's, consisting of a conspicuous dome in ruins, and some
minarets, a large Serai likewise going to ruin, standing in the immediate
vicinity of the Royal Gardens, Lahore is decidedly a handsome looking
city viewed from Shah Durrah.
So great is the tendency in palms to throw out roots towards the base,
that these roots exist in the common _Khujoor_, although they have to get
rid of the indurated bases of the petioles before they can make their
exit. They are so extremely short and indurate that it is difficult to
imagine the function they perform; at first they are capable probably of
absorbing from the air.
_5th_.--Proceeded to General Court's house at Lahore, distance six miles,
the road after crossing the Ravee river near a royal summer house of no
extraordinary merits, passes on to the town, and then winds round under
the Simon Boorge, a very striking part, at least exteriorly of the city,
for the buildings, works, etc. are in good repair. Besides this the
ground outside is swardy and prettily wooded.