parallel of Cashmere, or about 34 degrees; and extending westward from that celebrated country, separate Puckholi, Sewad, and Bijore, on the south, from Caferistan on the north: and advancing from thence, to a junction with mount Hindoo-Kho, in the line between Cabul and Anderab, separate Lumghan (see page 113), which appears to have been the ancient frontier of Cabul, from those districts, which, after the time of Baber,* were added to, and have since become a part of, the province of Cabul; according to its defined limits in the Ayin Acbaree. On the north of this range, the whole country may be regarded as mountainous: on the south, the mountainous tract is confined chiefly to Sewad, Bijore, Teerah,† and a part of Puckholi.

The soubah of Cabul, under the Mogul emperors, comprehended the whole space between the Indus, and the mountains of Hindoo-Kho, in dimensions 150 cofses, according to the Ayin Acharee: and this is its greatest extent; for 100 cosses are given for its breadth, between Kurrabagh and Chuganserai (in a northeasterly direction; its length being from S E to NW). Kurrabagh is known to be 11 royal cofses to the westward, or S W of Ghizni: and Chuganserai, according to the Emperor Baber, is a town, situated at the western extremity of Caferistan; and on a river of the same name, which comes from the NE quarter (in respect of the town), and from behind, that is, from the north of, Bijore: || and flows from thence to the S W, or SS W, to join the waters of Penjeshehr, &c. from the north-west. Cabul is confined on the north, by the continuation of Hindoo-Kho; and on

Kirkpatrick's MSS.

+ Teerah is a small province, or district, lying between Paishawur and Cabul; and confined on the N and S by the river of Cabul, and by the southern ridge of snowy mountains. (Kirkp. MSS.)

1 Vol. II. p. 199. The distance from Attock to the foot of Hindoo-Kho, by my construction, is 210 G. miles; equal to 147 Hindoostanny cofses, reduced to horizontal distance. Here we have a clear proof that the cofs, used by Abul Fazil, was of the common, or Hindoostanny kind, of 42 to a degree. It furnishes also a satisfactory proof of the accordance of Abul Fazil's distances, with those communicated by Capt. Kirkpatrick. || Kirkpatrick's MSS.

the N E (as we have seen) by Caferistan, or Kuttore. Towards the south, or the quarter of Bungush, we are ignorant of its extent: but as its greatest breadth is implied, in the space between Kurrabagh and Chuganserai, it may be concluded that it cannot extend far beyond the river of Nughz.

The Ayin Acbaree is very full, in its description of the province of Cabul; and it appears by this, and every other account, to be a country highly diversified: being made up of mountains, covered with eternal snows; hills of moderate height, and easy ascent, rich plains, and stately forests; and these enlivened by innumerable streams of water. It produces every article necessary to human life, together with the most delicate fruits and flowers. It is sometimes named Zabulistan, from Zabul, one of the names of Ghizni; which was the ancient capital of this country, and of which Candahar was then reckoned a part: although by the arrangement in the Ayin Acbaree, Cabul itself is reckoned a part of the soubah of Cashmere. Cabul, however, has since been regarded as a soubah of itself; and with evident propriety.

Cabul, as well as Candahar, together with some districts on the east of the Indus, are comprized within the extensive dominions of Timur Shah Abdalla (usually styled King of Candahar), which extend westward to the neighbourhood of the city of Tershish; including generally Cabul, Candahar, Paishawur, Ghizni, Gaur, Seistan (or Sigistan), and Korasan. This tract is not less than 800 B. miles in length, from east to west: but although we know not what the extent may be, breadthwise; yet there is little reason to suppose that it bears any proportion to the length. It does not differ much from the tract comprized within the ancient kingdom of Ghizni. Timur Shah's Indian subjects are chiefly Afghans; the rest, Persians and Tartars of almost every denomination. His government is said to be mild and equitable; with some degree of relaxation as to military discipline: which in a government purely military, forbodes difsolution.

The city of Cabul, the present capital of Timur Shah, is situated near the foot of the Indian Caucasus, or Hindoo-Kho; and the proximity of this ridge, occasions the most rapid changes in the temperature of the atmosphere. Its situation is spoken of in terms of rapture by the Indian historians; it being no lefs romantic, than pleasant: enjoying a wholesome air, and having within its reach, the fruits and other products both of the temperate, and the torrid zone. In a political light, it is considered as the gate of India towards Tartary: as Candahar holds the same place, with respect to Persia.

It was found necessary to anticipate the subject of the roads and passes, between Cabul and the Panjab country; in order to explain, with more effect, the march of Timur: and to this discussion (page 113, et seq.) we beg leave to refer the reader. It is there stated, that the country of Cabul is divided into two parts, by a ridge of snowy mountains, which extends from east to west, from the Indus to the neighbourhood of Ghizni. Also, that a doubt existed whether the ridge terminated there, or joined the mountains that are known to lie on the south of Candahar. By the course of the river of Ghizni, described in the Ayin Acbaree, and in the Turkish geography, quoted by D'Anville; it must force a passage through those mountains, supposing the continuity to exist.

Between the mountains of Hindoo-Kho, and those of Candahar, the country takes the form of an extensive valley, from Cabul to the borders of Korasan. Mr. Forster reports, that he crossed no ridges of mountains, within this space: and the Ayin Acbaree, in describing the different roads that lead from Cabul to Turan (that is Transoxiana), mentions one, by way of Candahar and Korasan, which is "free from hills."*

It appears, that in the tract between Cabul and Candahar, the

If this account be true, it destroys the supposition of a continuity of mountains, from the south of the Caspian sea, to India.

highest point of elevation of the country, is marked by the descent of the waters from it, in almost every direction. Our knowledge, respecting this particular, is, however, confined merely to a few leading facts. At Mooker, 42 G. miles west from Ghizni, the waters of the Turung river, incline to the west; and the Hir, Heer, or Heermund, which issues from the south of the Bamian ridge (of Hindoo-Kho), runs to the SW, towards the lake of Durrah, or Zurrah, in Korasan. The river of Balk, one of the heads of the Jihon (or Oxus), issues from the north of the same mountains; and the waters of Cabul from the east. Those of Nughz, and Ghizni, appear to have their sources from the same quarter, also; but we have no positive information on this head. The Ayin Acbaree, Vol. II. p. 207, speaking of Ghizni, says, " a river runs from "north to south, and fertilizes all the cultivated lands." And M. D'Anville (Eclaircissemens Geographiques sur la Carte de l'Inde, page 26) quotes the Turkish geography, compiled by Kiatibchelebi, to shew, that a river of the name of Dilen, rises beyond, that is, to the N, or NW, of Ghizni, and receives near Kerdiz (Gurdaiz, without doubt), another river named Semil: after which the confluent river takes the name of Cow, and pursuing its course towards Nagar (Nughz), receives, near that place, another river, which comes from the quarter of Candahar. The Emperor Baber, often speaks of a river in this quarter, by the name of Cow-mull: but Capt. Kirkpatrick, to whom we are indebted for this information, conceived that the river Cow-mull, joined the Indus below Chowpareh. At the same time, he concludes with certainty, that the river of Nughz, which also passes by Bunnoo, joins the Indus at, or very near to, Deenkote. This is also the opinion of M. D'Anville; founded, probably, on the facts set forth by the Turkish geographer abovementioned (Eclaircis. p. 26). Here it is taken for granted, that the Tsbehin-kot of D'Anville, is meant for Deenkote. I think we have here, abundant authority for believing that the waters of Ghizni and of Gurdaiz, form the great river of

Bungush, which pafses by Nughz and Bunnoo, and discharges itself into the Indus, at Deenkote: and also that this river is the one named Cow, or Cow-mull, by the Oriental historians and geographers: but we are left in uncertainty concerning its sources; for the Emperor Baber's observations on the heads of the rivers, in the neighbourhood of Bamian, may, in the particular that relates to the Sinde, be understood to mean either the river of Cabul, or that of Nughz. He says, "the Sinde (that is, the Indus), ifsues "from the mountains of Bamian; where also are the springs of the Heermund, and of the double river of Balk and Condoz (meaning "the Jihon). We are assured that a person may drink, at Bamian, "in the same day, out of every one of these four rivers." No one can doubt the accuracy of the Emperor Baber's information, on this subject: and therefore we may with certainty conclude, that certain streams, which communicated with each of the four rivers abovementioned, issued from the neighbourhood of Bamian: but which of the two rivers it was that ran from thence into the Indus (or which was, in Baber's idea, the Indus itself), we are not told: whether the one that passes by Cabul, or by Nughz. But the probabilities are, that the former was meant: because it is spoken of as a river of some bulk, at Cabul, and therefore must have a remote source: and because we are not certain that the Nughz river has a source so remote.

The Cabul river, as it is loosely named, throughout its course, has, nevertheless, the proper name of Kameh, or Kamah, from the neighbourhood of Jalalabad, 60 or 70 miles below Cabul, downwards to Paishawur. At Jalalabad, it is navigable for Jalehs, or rafts of a particular construction; and as no embarkations of the hollow kind are in use, it seems to prove that the navigation is interrupted by rapids; for there can be no doubt but that the

History informs us, that some of the Emperors have made voyages down the Kameh, on Falebs: it is therefore fair to suppose, that no better kind of embarkations were to be had. For a description of these, see Mr. Gladwin's History of Jehanguire's Reign, p. 110.