ed as those about Cabul.
Balabagh stands on a high bank of conglomerate, overhanging the Soorkhab,
and is in danger of being cut away by the river. The peasantry are
civil, and unarmed. Ravens, quails, _minas_, sparrows, and a beautiful
swallow were seen about the Soorkhab river; the latter, with metallic
blue on the back of the head, crown of head tawny, tail short, two
exterior feathers elongated into beautiful almost setaceous bodies,
exceeding the length of the bird. This swallow, or one with a similar
tail, was seen by Sanders on the Helmund, at Girishk.

_20th_.--We proceeded to Sultanpore, eight and a half miles, passed
Futtehabad, thence a gradual descent over a very stony slope to the
halting place, where the valley becomes narrow, and water plentiful in a
small stream. Willows, mulberries, ashes. Two large pollards at
Futtehabad.

The vegetation consists of Gramineae in patches, AErua Nerioides, and
Mudar.

Sultanpore, is a village of some size, situated about a mile north from
the road, and contains many Hindoos. All villages here crowded with
highish two or three-storied houses, something like Shikarpore: they are
surrounded with gardens and mud walls, apricots, mulberries, greengages,
pomegranates in profusion; the cultivation very rich as yesterday, and
there is an air of repose about the villages unusual in this country.
Tobacco. The rice-pounder or _dekhee_ I observe is here lifted by
treading on it with the foot, as in Hindoostan. The country hereabout,
has the advantage of being well watered. _Isain_, Dolichos sp. occurs.

Trees as before: the plane flourishes, fine ones were seen growing around
a Hindoo Zearut, where there is a double spring of water with a copious
ebullition of gas. The temperature of this is said to be hot in winter.
Salsola common, _Joussa_, a curious Ericoid plant was observed, Typha
angustifolia, latifolia ceased since we left Gundamuck; Isachne,
Pulicaria, Epilobium, Sagittaria, Cyperaceae, Marsilea! Polygonum,
Ranunculus sceleratus, Lythrum, Lemna, Alisma, Menthoid, a Cuscuta common
on cotton plants, as at Futtehabad, several tropical grasses, Aristida,
Poa, and Andropogon appear.

Descent though almost unappreciable, yet amounts to 1,000 feet. Bulbul
and Parus common, as well as doves and ravens; quails are scarce.

_21st_.--To Jallalabad, eight and a half miles, the road keeping along
the southern edge of the valley, occasionally extending over small
undulat