of Western Afghanistan and North-Eastcrn Persia. 83 



h. Fruits yielded by indigenous plants. 



The nuts collected from the indigenous forests of Pistacia 

 VERA are of great commercial importance, both as an article 

 of diet amongst the people, and also for exportation, being- 

 obtained in immense quantities from the forests in the Bad- 

 ghis, whence they are carried all over the country, besides 

 being exported to Persia, Afghanistan proper, and India. Bar- 

 berries are considered rather in the light of a condiment ; 

 preserved as a pickle they are greatly used in the diet of 

 the better classes, and for similar reasons much exported to 

 India. The fruit of the indigenous El.-eagxus and of the 

 Jujube cannot be distinguished from the cultivated forms 

 except by size ; these are chiefly carried and eaten on 

 journeys, hence one of the names for the fruit of the 

 Elffiagnus, " Caravan-dates." The fruit of Celtis caucasica 

 is much eaten and highly extolled, but it is chiefly used as 

 a flour, to be made into bread with ordinary flour. The 

 wild fig is much smaller than the cultivated fruit, but I was 

 told that it was excellent eating. I had not an opportunity 

 of collecting it when it was actually ripe. 



Indigenous plants yielding fruits that are of importance- 



Berberis vulgaris. Bar- 

 berry. 



ZlZYPHUS VULGARIS. Ju- 



jube. 

 Pistacia vera. Pistacio. 



Pyrus, species. Wild pear. 

 El^lagxus hortexsis. Elae- 



agnus. 



Celtis caucasica. Celtis. 

 Ficus Carica. Fioc. 



Fruits exported — 



The greatest exportation occurs in Eaisins, Pistacio nuts. 

 Walnuts, the dried flesh of Apricots, Prunes, and Almonds ; 

 the next, in fresh Grapes packed between layers of cotton, 

 in small light circular boxes, made of poplar or willow wood, 

 much resembling the boxes figs used to be packed in called 

 " drums, " Quinces, Pears, Apples, Pomegranates, sardCt 

 Melons, and Beeberis fruit. 



Fruits imported. — 



The Date is largely imported from Southern Persia, and 

 said to be from Arabia through Persia to Afghanistan and 



