At the time of my arrival in Kashmir, the fruit-trees were in full blossom; the wild vegetation had, however, made very little progress, only the earliest plants being in flower. The spring flora was eminently European in character; not only the genera, but many of the species, being identical with those of our own island. _Cruciferæ_ were the most abundant natural order; and, among many others, I collected _Draba verna_, _Capsella_, _Erysimum_, _Alliaria_, _Turritis glabra_, and European species of _Lepidium_, _Thlaspi_, _Alyssum_, and _Sisymbrium_. Other common forms were _Lycopsis arvensis_, _Lithospermum arvense_, _Myosotis collina_, _Scandix Pecten_, _Ranunculus Philonotis_, _Anagallis arvensis_, _Euphorbia Helioscopia_, and several species of _Veronica_. None of the annual plants were Indian forms, though a few of them were such as occur commonly in the plains in the cold season. The shrubby vegetation was very limited: a Juniper (_J. communis_), a _Cotoneaster_, _Rubus_, _Rosa Webbiana_, _Zizyphus_, _Elæagnus_, _Daphne_, and two species of _Berberis_, were the most common. A few straggling trees of _Pinus excelsa_, which grew on the northern face of the low hill called Solomon's Throne, were the only pines which I saw in any part of the open valley.
[16] This juniper has a very extended range in altitude, being common in the drier parts of the Himalaya at elevations of 12-13,000 feet, and in some parts of Tibet, where it meets with a higher summer temperature, even as high as 14-15,000 feet. It is the _Juniperus excelsa_ of Wallich, and, so far as the point can be decided by dried specimens, seems identical with specimens in the Hookerian Herbarium, collected in Karabagh and Sakitschiwan by Szowitz, and communicated to Sir W. J. Hooker by Fischer. The Taurian specimens of _J. excelsa_ from Bieberstein are, however, a good deal different, and are perhaps only a form of _J. Sabina_.
[17] In Moorcroft's time, this place was a small village.
Environs of Kashmir -- City lake -- Gardens of Shalimar and Dilawer Khan -- Pampur -- Avantipura -- Platforms of lacustrine clay -- Mountain of Wasterwan -- Ancient city -- Clay, with shells and fragments of pottery -- Ancient temple imbedded in clay -- Lakes caused by subsidence -- Islamabad -- Shahabad -- Vegetation -- Vernag -- Banahal Pass -- Valley of Banahal -- Tropical vegetation -- Pass above Chenab Valley -- Nasmon -- _Jhula_, or Swing-bridge -- Balota -- Ladhe ke Dhar -- Katti -- Fort of Landar -- Mir -- Kirmichi -- Tertiary sandstones -- Dhuns -- Seda -- Jamu.