exercise without a strong guard: no means of access to
the beautiful forests visible in several directions, and the natives are
so intractable that it is impossible to induce them to bring in specimens
of their various trees, the only things about which I am anxious.

In the meantime I have begun to use the theodolite, and getting
approximations to the height of those peaks remarkable for their features
of vegetation.

It is curious that no pines are visible on any range south of the Kooner
river, until we reach those heights on the opposite side of a very
conspicuous ravine, up which the Bajore road runs. To the north, on all
the ranges of sufficient height, fine forests are visible, especially of
firs, other large-crowned trees exist, forming the bulk of the forests,
below the limit of the pines, but never grouped as those are, but
occurring isolatedly, these I call generally, _Baloot_ woods, i.e.
Quercus _Baloot_.

The only means I have of gaining any idea of the composition of these
forests, are derived from the twigs and branches, which are used by the
natives as pads for the loads of _wood_ which they bring into for sale,
and which almost consequently are from the lowermost limits of woody
vegetation. To go among the woods unguarded, is impossible, and
secondly, the weather is very bad.

_Memoranda_.--That it cannot always be deficiency of soil which causes
the extreme barrenness of the usual Khorassan mountains, because on the
Kalo Pass to Bamean, nearly 13,000 feet high, the soil is abundant; but
in this case, height may interfere.

It is obvious between Kooner and Cabul, that the transition from
absolutely treeless mountains to well-wooded ones occurs nearer to Kooner
than Cabul, because the Hindoo-koosh about Cabul, and to the eastward, is
said to be treeless.

How interesting will the examination of these woods be, how different
will be their flora from that of Khorassan proper!

To define the Khorassan Province also, by its being destitute of wood or
trees. Note its passing off from this character between Ghuzni and
Quettah, see Marryott's letter about Kooner, compare with _Mazenderam_
_forests_. Fine plane trees occur here, all the vines are trained on
mulberries. What is Burnes' holly oak, or lily oak?

Rubus occurs, Ranunculus stolonifolia, a cold season plant, Euphorbia
ditto, and the usual Peshawur forms.

_28th_.--Fine weather; clouds however, still flying about.

_29th_.--A fine morn