WESTERN HINDOOSTAN. ii 



which defcends a great and rapid river from mount Caucafus, 

 and is navigable very far up, fo as to form an eafy communica- 

 tion with the Euxine fea. Venice and Genoa received the 

 Indian hixuries from ConJIajitinopIe^ and their own port of 

 Cqff'a, and difperfed them over the other parts of Europe. 



Both thefe cities continue the emporia o^Ferfia^ India, 'Tar- 

 fary, and all the circumjacent nations. The commerce is ftill 

 confiderable, notwithftanding it has been leflened by that of 

 the European nations, who have eftabliflied factories in almoft 

 every part of the Indian empire. 



Cabulxs feated in Lat. 34.* 36' N. Long. 68° 58' E. at the foot of Cabul. 

 the India7i Caucafus, and in fo happy a climate, as to produce 

 the fruits of both the temperate and torrid zones, notwithftand- 

 ing it is bordered by mountains capped with eternal fnow. The 

 Indian hiftorians fpeak of it in the mod rapturous terms. It 

 ftands on the river Kamebj which falls into the Indus sAAttock, but 

 poffibly is interrupted by rapids, as it is only navigable by rafts. 



Cabul is the refidence of the Kings of Candahar, and the 

 prefent capital. The Nubian Geographer (p. 66.) fpeaks of 

 Cabul as a noble city ; that its mountains abounded with the 

 fined aromatic woods, Neregil znd Myrobalans ; the firft may 

 be NeUila Phylanthus emblica\ the others the Spondias purpurea, 

 8cc. All the Myrobalans had once a name in our fliops as gentle 

 purgatives ; among other purpofes they are ufed in the tanning 

 bufinefs. 



Of late days, Cabul has been noted for its vaft fairs of horfes 

 and cattle ; the firft brought there by the JJjbec Tartars. Slaves 

 are alio a confiderable article of commerce. Merchants refort 

 to thefe markets from Pcrjia, China, and Tartary. It was taken 



C 2 by 



