1 14 TMISTORY OF THE PANJAB, P
2 karil, ov caparis, and gawassi, or camel-thorn, are met with. Culti-
3 Pinnted fruit trees. vated fruit trees are abundant, and among others may be mentioned the
4 orange, pomegranate, apple, peach, fig, mulberry, quince, apricot, almond
5 and plum, the fruit of which is largely consumed by the inhabitants.
6 The Government has done much to extend the planting of timber and in
7 the way of introducing exotics, and extensive groves have been planted round
8 cantonments and public buildings and in other places suited for arbori-
9 culture. The sides of roads and the banks of canals have been adorned
10 with shade-giving trees, and forest conservation has of late years done
11 invaluable service in establishing and extending nurseries and plantations, a
12 work which before the annexation of the Province by the British had received
13 little, if any, attention. ;
14 Animals. The fauna of the Province has the reputation of being richer and more
15 varied than its flora. Elephants are not found in a state of nature; those
16 mentioned by Arrian as having been seen on the banks of the Indus having
17 apparently been turned loose by the Indian troops in the heat of their flight
18 before the Macedonian arms. ‘Tigers are still found in the forests, and the
19 lion was once not uncommon in the jungle. The other beasts of
20 prey are leopards, panthers, hysenas, lynxes, wolves, bears, jackals, foxes,
21 stoats, martens and various other small species of viverra, There are also
22 nilgais, antelopes and various other kinds of deer, goats, wild boar, porcu-
23 pines, monkeys, large and hideous vampires, so sacred to the Hindus, and
24 Birds. other bats. The feathered tribes include parrots, peafowl, junglefowl,
25 pheasants, eagles, vultures, hawks, quails, pelicans, various kinds of par-
26 tridges, waterfowl in great numbers and variety, cranes, herons, magpies,
27 hoopoos and doves. The bulbul, sometimes called the Indian nightingale,
28 whose sweet voice and beautiful shape are praised by the poet Hafiz of
29 Shiraz, though of inferior vocal powers to its congener of Europe, is yet
30 greatly admired. Among poisonous snakes the most remarkable are the
31 cobra-de-capello, and a small snake, the sangchur, the bite of which causes
32 instantaneous death. The rivers are infested with alligators, and fish of
33 various species abound. The silkworm is reared with great skill and
34 on Gaels, buffaloes industry, and bees produce abundant wax and honey. Camels thrive
35 : in the hot southern plains, and herds of buffaloes on the grazing lands
36 adjoining the rivers. Horses of excellent quality are reared in the north-
37 east part of the country, and the chiefs who breed them take great pride
38 in their equestrian capabilities.
39 a Agricultural pro- Of agricultural products, sugarcane is grown everywhere in the fertile
40 tracts and indigo in the low southern regions, both being largely exported
41 towards Sindh and Kabul. Cotton is produced and exported in large
42 quantities. Wheat and maize are extensively cultivated and of excellent
43 quality. They not only suffice for home consumption but are exported
44 in great quantities. The other articles of produce are buckwheat, rice,
45 barley, millet, bajra (Holcus spicatus) jods (Holcus sorghum), nuing
46 (Phasceolus mango) ; oil-seeds, such as sesamum and mustard, various sorts
47 of vetches, carrots, pease, beans, onions, turnips, cucumbers, melons, and
48 various kinds of cucurbitaceous plants. The palm and the date-palm are
49 found in clusters in dense groves in the districts of Multan, Mozaffargarh,
50 Shang and Derajat. Extensive irrigation is carried on by means of canals,
51 is icnaces and the Persian wheel is employed to draw water from the wells. Of the
52 ceuraeea above crops, wheat, gram and barley are grown in the spring, and bajrd,
53 jody, new corn, rice, cotton, pulses, indigo and sugarcane in the autumn,
54 es a Ree produced in the divisions of Lahore, Amritsar, Jalandhar
55 : awalpindi and in the Derdjat. The largest areas under cotton
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