138 



An Account of Upper Kdsh-Mr. 



[No. 2, 



tongue, viz. the Birahwol, the Tal, the Karah, and the Baj-awrr river 

 and its feeders, are generally fordable at that season. 



The whole of these streams give names to as many darahs lono* 



narrow, fertile, and pleasant valleys, inclosed by ranges of lofty hills 

 running in a parallel direction to each other, which are again inter- 

 sected, in opposite directions, by hills less lofty, and valleys still 

 smaller, each of which has its own little stream, acting as a feeder to 

 the larger ones, and generally its village or small hamlet. 



In the winter months, the hills are covered with snow half way 

 down their sides ; and in the valleys also, as far south as Dir, snow 

 falls in considerable quantities, and lies on the ground for many days, 

 and sometimes even, for weeks together. Lower down, they have 

 copious showers of rain in the winter season. 



The whole of these valleys, as well as the extensive level tract 

 known as the " Sama'h," (except some parts of the latter, which ap- 

 proach the Merra'h, or Desert) are fertile, and the land is carefully 

 cultivated. It produces an abundance of grain, chiefly wheat and 

 barley ; but ju'dr (Holcus sorgum), and bajrd (Holcus spicatus), are 

 produced in smaller quantities. 



The other principal productions are, cotton to a small extent, suf- 

 ficient for home consumption ; tobacco, and sugar-cane, which are 

 grown in the more southerly parts. Most agricultural produce is 

 exceedingly cheap, and is calculated to be eight times more so than 

 at Kabul. When at the dearest, eight Kabul sirs of wheat — equal to 

 about 88 lbs. English — sell for one rupee or two shillings. 



Many European fruits are also produced in considerable quantities 

 and some wild, but of no great variety. The former consist, chiefly, 

 of apples, pears, and a sort of plum. The hills and valleys, in many 

 places, are also clothed with several sorts of wild flowers, indigenous 

 to these northern climates. 



The land, in the more elevated parts, depends solely on rain for 

 moisture ; but in the valleys, the irrigation is artificial wherever the 

 water of the numerous streams can be conducted. The chief harvest 

 is the khurifor autumn; and but little corn is sown in the spring 

 months. 



The northern part of Panj-korah, where the climate is severe, is 

 somewhat thinly inhabited; but towards the south the country is 

 densely populated. 



