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THE GHAKKAR COUNTRY. 97
tongue bhalcra x is a jungle. The jungle was composed of
clusters of flowers, white and scentless. I came the whole
way from Tila to Bhakra in the middle of the river-bed, 2
which had running water in it, with oleander flowers of
the colour of peach-blossom. In Hindustan this plant
is
always in full bloom {purbdr). There was much of
it on the banks of this river. The horsemen and men
on foot who were with me were told to put bunches of the
flower on their heads, and whoever did not do so had his
turban taken off"; a wonderful flower-bed was produced.
On Thursday the 6th of the month the halting-place
was at Hatya. On this road many palas - trees {Butea
frondosa) were in blossom. This flower, too, is peculiar to
the jungles of Hindustan ;
it has no scent, but its colour is
flaming; orange. The base of the flower is
© © black ;
the
J
flower itself is as big as a red rose. It is so beautiful that
one cannot take one's eyes off it. As the air was very
sweet and clouds had hidden the sun, and rain was gently
sprinkled about, I felt an inclination to drink wine. In
short this road was traversed with great enjoyment and
pleasure. They call the place Hatya because it was
founded by a Ghakkar named Hathi (elephant). From
Margala to Hatya the country is called Pothiiwar. 3 In
these regions there are few crows. From Rohtas to
©
Hatya is the place and abode of the Bhugyals, 4 who are
related to and of the same ancestry as the Ghakkars.
Marching on Friday the 7th, I travelled 4| kos and
alighted at the station of Pakka. 5 This place is called
1
In Tolbort's account of Ludhiyana, J.A.S.B. for 1869, p. 86, bhakhra
is
given as the name of a creeping plant {Pedalium murex).
2
JRud-khana ; this, according to Blochmann, should be the river
Kahan, Tehama being a mistake for Kahan. See p. 487 note. But all
the AISS. have khfma.
3
See Elliot, vi, 309 note.
4
Biigyals ; Elliot, vi, 309. They are descendants of Sultan Btiga.
5
Paka is mentioned in Tiefenthaler, i, 114. 7