of Western Afghanistan and North-Eastcrn Persia. 195 



Smilax China, Linn. Liliace^. 



China-root, cJwh-chim. What is supposed to be the root of 

 this species is imported from China througli Central Asia, and 

 valued as a drug. 



Smyrnium cordifolium, Boiss. Umbellifer.!:. 

 Kanhdll', eaten as a vegetable raw and cooked. 



SxAKE — mar — 



Snakes were very numerous throughout the country we 

 traversed. In the dry desert country of Baluchistan, the 

 Helmand, and similar parts of Persia, the small viper EcHis 

 AEENICOLA, was Very common ; in the sandstone country of 

 the Badghis, Vipera obtusa was specially characteristic, but 

 it is not uncommon in the Hari-rud Valley, and I got a 

 specimen of it in the Do-shakh range of hills, which is all 

 limestone, so that it does not confine itself to sandstone, 

 which I once thought it did. The Cobra, Naia oxiana, was 

 met with occasionally, but owing to its great size and 

 difficulty of preserving, only one adult specimen was kept ; a 

 good set of specimens of this species would be a valuable 

 acc|uisition to any museum. Several species of Zamexis, 

 with numerous specimens, were obtained ; but bush-snakes, 

 such as PsAMMOPHis LEITHII, require to be carefully looked 

 for with their curious habit of living among the upper 

 branches of shrubs. The formation of the soil of the 

 Badghis seems to be a paradise for snakes, and for numerous 

 small rodents. 



Snuff — naswdr, vtashwdr — to snutf — na&huk- 

 harclan. 



Is prepared from the leaves of Nicotiana species, its 

 errhine action is supposed to be increased by adding to it 

 the powder of the stems, or the ashes of Ephedra pachyclada. 

 The natives, both men and old women, employ snuff to a 

 great extent in these countries. 



Soap — sCibun — 



Is at all times an expensive article in these regions. It 

 is made in villages when particularly required, but is usually 

 iiiil)urled from Turkistan ami Maiinana ; tlic furiiiiT prixluces 



