Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The Neighbouring Countries | Page 7

continue. I have as
yet not more than 850 species. The mountains on every side, and
indeed the whole face of the country, is still bare. Mookloor, a district
through which we passed, about seventy miles from this, is well
cultivated and inhabited. There are few birds to be seen, and scarcely
any insects, but there are numerous lizards. The thermometer varies in
tents from 60 to 90 degrees."
* * * * *
_Cabul_: _August 11th_, 1839.
"I am encamped close to Baber's tomb, lulled by the sound of falling
water, and cooled with the shade of poplar and sycamore trees, with
abundance of delicious fruit, and altogether quite happy for the nonce. I
have not yet seen the town which is a strange place, buried in gardens:
but nothing can exceed the rich cultivation of the valley in which we
are encamped. Beautiful fields on every side, with streamlets, rich
verdure, poplars, willows, and bold mountain scenery, which contrasts
most favourably with the dreary barren tracts to which we have been
accustomed. I go with the Engineers to Bamean in the course of a few
days, when we shall cross ridges of 12,000 to 13,000 feet high.
"I can only find three kinds of fish in this neighbourhood. I have been
making some drawings, and collecting a few plants which continue to
be entirely European."
* * * * *
_Peshawur_: _November 17th_, 1839.
"I hope some day or other to turn out a real traveller. I am now in hopes
of becoming a decent surveyor, and before many years have passed a
decent meteorologist. I leave the Army here, and shall part with it,
particularly Thomson and Durand of the Engineers, with regret. I start
in a short time to travel up the Indus with little before me but
difficulties, however a la renommee. If I can do something unparalleled
in the travelling way I shall be content for a year or two at least.

"I have obtained some few specimens of fossil shells from the shingly
beds of the Khyber Pass. They seem to be a Spirifer with a very square
base, quite different from the common species of the Bolan Pass, which
is like a large cockle, and of which I have one beautiful specimen. How
I regret not seeing Bukkur, for with a few days' leisure, a number of
fossils might be obtained. The older I grow the less content am I
scientifically: would that I had received a mathematical education. I
was much interested with some quotations from Lyell's Elements in a
late Calcutta Courier, especially about the Marine Saurian from the
Gallepagos. What further proof can be wanted of the maritime and
insular nature of the world during the reigns of the Saurian reptiles?
What more conclusive can be expected about the appearance of new
species? This point would at once be settled if the formation of these
islands can be proved not to have been contemporaneous with the
Continents. Then the animal nature of chalk!
"I am doing nothing in botany, but learning Persian, and the use of the
theodolite, with nothing but difficulties to look at all around. I begin to
feel of such importance, (do not think me conceited in relation to my
collections and information on geographical botany,) that I am not
overpleased with the idea of facing dangers alone: however I suppose
every thing is as usual exaggerated."
* * * * *
_Bamean_: _August 3rd_, 1840.
"Yesterday I crossed the Hindoo-koosh by my former route, and this
morning while out, i.e. trout fishing, was most agreeably interrupted by
the post. The fishing was ended forthwith. Indeed the sun in this
country even at elevations of 12,000 feet is very hot, and has excoriated
my hands, beautifully white as they were after my sickness, but not
before I had caught 3 barbels, evidently different from those of the
other side of the range. I caught some trout yesterday evening, it is a
most beautiful fish, I was particularly struck with the size of the eye, its
prominence, and expressive pupil, in opposition to the sluggishness of
the eyes of carps.

"It is strange that Botany has always been the most favoured of the
natural sciences, it is strange that in spite of what all do say it is the
least advanced of any. How can I reconcile my own splendid
opportunities with those of more deserving naturalists in other branches?
and I would willingly share them on the principle of common fairness
with others, who I know would turn them to a better account. Oreinus
takes the worm greedily; in the Helmund, 11,000 feet above the sea, it
is abundant. It is the same species I think as that in the Cabul river; but
in the Cabul river, Barbus