90 On the Mineral resources, fyc. of Northern Afghanistan. [No. 109. 



also in some of the streams of Kohistan ; but I have not yet received specimens from 

 these districts ; the report however, is not at all improbable, and I believe myself it 

 will be found all along the line of greatest elevation of the Hindoo Kosh and Indian 

 Caucasus. 



Whether this gold occurs originally in a disseminated state throughout the strata 

 from which it is detached, or whether there exist distinct repositories of the metal, 

 and in connection with some of the beds of iron, which from the iron sand that 

 accompanies the gold must be intersected by the streams, is a subject for future 

 inquiry. To the best of my recollection, all the gold brought to London by the 

 Brazilian Mining Company is found accompanying iron, whether in the alluvial 

 deposits from which it is washed, or the mines where it is worked. 



Specimens without number have been brought to me from various parts of the 

 country, supposed by the golden hue of the one, and the silvery whiteness of the 

 other, to belong to the precious metals. In none, however, have I been able to re- 

 cognise any thing beyond the sulphuret of iron under different forms, and a compound 

 perhaps of sulphur, arsenic, and iron. There are some specimens, however, respecting 

 which I am not quite certain, and these I shall transmit for chemical examination. 

 Having nothing but my blowpipe apparatus to depend upon, when any doubt exists 

 as to the constitutions of a mineral, it is desirable that they should be subjected 

 to the test of analysis. On one occasion I tried a specimen from a deposit in 

 Dobundee, (the ore externally has the appearance of an ore of silver,) and I saw a 

 small head which appeared not unlike impure silver, but since then I have repeated 

 the trial frequently without coming to any satisfactory result. The fragment of a 

 mineral, however, whicK i s submitted to the action of the blowpipe is so very minute, 

 being no larger than a grain uf pepper, that I should not wish these attempts to be 

 considered final. Argentiferous arsenical Iron is worked in Germany as an ore of sil- 

 ver, and should that metal be discovered in this country, it will probably be found 

 in combination with some of these ores, or what is still moxe likely, with some of 

 the numerous veins of lead which are to be met with. 



Amongst ali the specimens of iron pyrites, which have been brought to me, I 

 have seen nothing that could be termed curiferous. Latterly, I have heard several 

 reports of the existence of silver, but the Afghans are so addicted to the marvellous, 

 and so easily imposed upon by designing alchymists, that I would never attach the 

 smallest credit to them, unless a specimen of the mineral be produced. By all ac- 

 counts, the Huzareh country must be the richest in minerals of any other in Af- 

 ghanistan, from the number of old mines said to be there, and the remains of ancient 

 cities in their neighbourhood, which would seem to indicate, that its mineral wealth 

 in former times had been the cause of attraction. Whether silver may exist amongst 

 these mines, is a point to be ascertained. 



A story was told me lately by Aga Hoossain, a merchant of Herat, that atMough 

 in the Eimough or Eimouk country, there is an inscription in the Hebrew character, 

 on a large black slab, to the effect, that in the days of king Jumshed, (1274 years 

 ago,) the following mines were discovered : — 



