nella vulgaris, a thistle, a species of Sium, some gentians,
and Ranunculus aquatilis, were the most Indian forms
which I met with. From the mountains I procured
specimens of a juniper (/. ewcelsa), and of the alpine
birch of the Himalaya, which skirts the southern borders
of the Tibetan region, without extending into the driest
parts of that country.
CHAPTER VIII.
Leave Iskardo in the direction of Kashmir—First march through snow
to Turgu—Lacustrine clay—it extends into narrow valleys beyond
Nar-SGrol— Junction of Indus and Shayuk— Parkuta—Tolti
Kartash—Extensive lacustrine deposits—Tarkata—Road turns up
the Dras river—Ulding Thung—Fall of snow—Hardas—Karbu—
Continued snow—Dras—Find pass in front shut by deep snow—
Obliged to return to Iskardo—Rafts and rope-bridges on Indus—
Blataynus and Apricot apparently wild—Winter at Iskardo.
O n the 2nd of December I left Iskardo, in the direction
of Kashmir, by way of Dras, all other routes being shut
with snow. My first march was to Turgu, seven miles.
The ground was all the way covered with snow which
had fallen during the night, but it thawed a good deal
during the day, making the journey rather unpleasant.
The road lay along the south bank of the river, at first
over the level platform of lacustrine clay, among large
boulders, which were scattered over its surface, but
soon descending by a narrow and steep footpath, on
the face of the clayey cliff, to the level of the river, to
cross a deep bay, from which the clay formation has
been entirely removed, to a large village three miles
from Iskardo, through the cultivation of which the road
ascended gradually, and proceeded on the barren stony