rring in the recesses
between the banks of the rivers and the glacis slopes.

_15th_.--To Kooner, the road passes to Noorgul, an old _kafir_ fort, done
up and occupied by Kooneriles, to its south-west, three-quarters of a
mile a hostile fort is situated. The ferry is about two miles from
Noorgul, and is with difficulty fordable: the streams, three in number,
the last almost brim full, and very rapid; thence to Kooner is over a
cultivated country.

Noorgul is on a commanding position, the ground rising gradually on all
sides to it; the valley here is very narrow. Observed Cnicus, Fumaria,
Lotus, Anagallis caerulea, and Veronica agrestis, springing up: trees
continue the same to about Kooner: some fine plane trees observed.

All the mountains are wooded at a certain height, and in greater
quantities, very different however from Himalayan forests, being dotted
in parts, rather than uniformly clothed with forest, Andropogon one of
the ordinary spring forms: the _churs_ or islands in the river are also
covered with Andropogoneous vegetation.

_16th_.--To Pushut, or rather to within one mile of it, rain throughout
the day accompanied by an unpleasant wind down the valley. Road except
for the first mile, during which it passed through cultivation,
troublesome, otherwise with the exception of two ravines, at one of which
the horses were taken out of the guns, very good: valley narrow, say
three miles, the boundary ridges to the north presenting as it were,
truncate faces to the valley, all the mountains at certain heights are
well wooded.

_17th_.--Rain continued since, almost without intermission, very dirty
weather, but no wind.

Snow on the hills around, almost within 1,500 to 2,000 feet of this, the
mountains to the south are well wooded, the woods occurring here and
there in forests; snow is said to fall here occasionally.

_18th_.--The attack took place this morning, and failed on account of the
weather, which was sufficient to damp any thing, and which prevented the
powder bags from exploding, as well as a second cask of cartridges. The
men were withdrawn about twelve, rain pouring down, ammunition of the
guns being expended, and that for musquetry quite useless; a few more
rounds would have demolished the entrance gateway and brought it down
bodily; loss severe, twenty five men killed, thirty-two wounded, several
dangerously. The fort was well defended, and evidently by a mere handful
of people.

_19th_.-