KURAM district is the valley of the river Kuram, about 60 miles long, and breadth from 3 to 10 miles. The scenery is fine, and in some places grand, the Safed Koh forming a magnifi cent background to a picture of quiet beauty. The Kuram river runs through green fields and sunny orchards, and numerous villages dot the plain. The principal spur from the Safed Koh range is the Peiwar ridge, which runs south and divides into two branches, one of which is parallel to the Kuram. , The number of fighting men of the Kuram tribes have been thus estimated—MMgal, 8000 ; Jaji, 800 ; Bangash, 5620 ; Turi, 5000.
Thall is about 2500 feet, Kuram is nearly 4800, and the pass of the Peiwar is 8500 over sea-level. Of the peaks about Peiwar that of Karaia is 15,400 feet, while that of Sikuram is 15,600 in height. The Kuram plains are in summer totally devoid of water, and in winter are covered with snow. Along the base of the Safed Koh range Inumerous valleys debouch upon the plain ; these are extremely fertile. The oriental plane, the walnut, and the amlok grow to a great size ; and orchards contain the apple, apricot, plum, quince, and grape. The soil yields two crops during the year, the first being barley, wheat, and clover ; the second rice, maize, and one of the millets. On the slopes of the mountains the limit of forest is usually reached at 11,000 feet; in some favoured spots single trees of Pinus excelsa and Abies Webbiana, not unfrequently exist up to 12,000.
A dense forest_ occupies the ridges of the Peiwar Kur and Santal, and their separation from the Dravidian, may be illustrated by a few examples : kutal, consisting chiefly of deodar, with Abies Smithiana and Pinus excelsa. On its spurs this forest growth completely disappears at 11,000 feet, and is replaced with flat masses of the common juniper. This disappears at 12,000 feet, leaving the summits of the peak perfectly bare, unless where a boulder affords shelter to some alpine plant. Some of the exceptionally largo trees measured as follows :—Platte, circumference, 33 feet ; walnut, 17 feet ; deodar, 21 feet ; celtis, 16 feet ; oak, 13 feet ; a variety of the black poplar, 10 feet 6 inches. I or light, pine splinters are used ; and in lieu of vegetable oils for food, the melted fat of the tail of the large tailed sheep is consumed. A very handsome new clematis, with flowers of a pale lemon colour, and from 3 inches to 5 inches iu diameter, called after General Roberts, and a new yellow rose, are among the many new species found.