Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The Neighbouring Countries | Page 6

a pretty one. Otherwise the country is ugly enough, and
very bare, yet it is here well wooded, in comparison with what I hear of
Ferozepore. Along the face of the hill near the town, a nullah flows,
abounding in fish, of which more anon. The rock pigeons, or grouse,
are very abundant, and there are two species, one remarkable for the
elongated side-feathers of the tail. Both are beautiful birds, but very
difficult of access. Crows, kites, vultures, adjutants, herons, Drongoles,
sparrows, parrots, etc. remain as before, but most of the less common
birds are different from those to the south; the most European are
genuine starlings; and, to my memory of eight years back, identical
with those of Europe. I have already got thirty to forty species of fish.
Cyprinidae, are by far the most common; one loach, and one of
Macrognathus.

"But as they are all from one water, viz. the neighbouring nullah, and
the Sutledge being five miles off, I shall put them all into bottles, and
send them off before I leave this. The most edible fish, and one of the
most common is the Roh, but it is not the Roh of Bengal, and might
well be called Cyprinus ruber. Burnes has given I think a drawing of it,
which is faithful as to colour. All the forms will be familiar to you, but
I hope there will be some new species.
"I have made further arrangements, and such as will give you a good
insight into the fish of the Sutledge, as to the number of duplicates!--it
is the safest plan for an ignoramus not to discriminate too nicely. I am
to-day to get large specimens of the Kalabans, Rohi, etc. what a
splendid fish the Rohi is, both to look at and to eat. There are two or
three species of the transparent Chandas, and three or four Perilamps,
six or eight Siluridae, besides the Gwali, which is too large; of
Ophiocephalus two or three, exclusive of the Sowli, but all ought to be
examined, as there is no relying on native discrimination. There is a
curious animal here burrowing like a mole, but more like a rat: of this I
have not yet got a specimen, although they are very common.
"I commence with a list of the fish of this place. I have only to mention
that several species are confounded under the name Bhoor, all the
Chandras under Chunda Begla, Loaches under Pote, all the Perilamps
except the Chulwa, which may be from its flavour a Clupeia, etc. The
fact is, that the fishermen are aware of genera, but not of species,
excepting when the distinctive marks are very strong. The fisherman
enumerates forty species, but I have only twenty-six, I have promised
him one rupee when he completes the list:
Native Name. Family. General size.
1. Khaila, ) ( 6. 2. Bhoor, ) ( mature. 3. Rewa, ) Cyprins, ( mature. 4.
Bangun, ) ( 18 inches, called also Kala Bhans.
5. Chund Bigla, mature. 6. Ditto ditto, ditto. 7. Ditto ditto, ditto. 8. Pote,
Loach, ditto. 9. Mailoa, Perilamps, ditto. 10. Khurda, ditto Trichopterus?
11. Puttra, Salurida, 20 seers. 12. Kuttoa, Ditto, 6 inches.

13. Ghichila,) Macrognathus( 7 ditto. 14. Bham, ) ( 3 feet.
15. Nunghree,) ( 6 inches. 16. Nowhan, ) Cyprins, ( ditto. 17. Pootea, )
( 12 inches.
18. Seengh, Silurida, 8 inches. 19. Bugarlea, ditto. 20. Mootunna,
nearly mature. 21. Bardul, 6 inches. 22. Chilwa, Perilamp,? mature. 23.
Nuwha, Esox, ditto.
24. Gwalee, ) Silurus, ( 2 maunds, 25. Ruttgull,) ( nearly mature.
26. Chundee Clupeia, ditto ditto.
* * * * *
_Candahar_: _May the 2nd_, 1839.
"We have seen three changes in the geological structure of the country.
"The Khojah Omrah was chiefly clay slate, and we are now in another
formation, which no one seems to know; but it must be different as the
outlines of the hills are completely changed. We are now 3,500 feet
above the sea. The climate is good, and would be delightful in a good
house, but in tents the thermometer varies from 60 to 98 degrees and
even 105 degrees.
"I have got a decent collection of plants, only amounting however to
650 species. The flora continues quite European. I have some of
singular interest. Compositae, Cruciferae, and Gramineae form the bulk
of the vegetation. All fish are very different from those below the Ghats.
I have five or six species of Cyprinidae. One very inimitable fuscous
loach. There are few birds, and fewer quadrupeds; in fact the country is
at a minimum in both these respects."
* * * * *
_Ghuzni_: _July 25th_, 1839.
"We have been gradually ascending since leaving Candahar, and are

here at an elevation of 7,600 feet. The same features