1841.] Extracts from Demi-Ojicial Reports. 127 



rupees, but this might be increased very greatly, if any thing like system 

 were introduced into his government. It is said at Meimunna that 

 Ahmud Shah imposed a tax of one toman upon each of 380 ploughs, be- 

 longing to as many villages in this district, then registered under Au- 

 milders, for the support of Hajee Khan's Mehman Khanah. Those 

 ploughs were understood to be used for the cultivation of lands watered 

 by natural streams, (there are no kuhreezes in this country), and some- 

 thing more than 3 times their produce was said to be raised from 

 Daimee land or soil watered by the heavens. If we allow 15 khurvvars- 

 for the crop of one plough, we have 5,400 khurwars for the stream 

 lands ; 3 times this for the rain crops would be 17,200 khurwars and the 

 total 22,600 Ditto. The country is certainly now better populated and 

 cultivated then it was at the beginning of the Doorannee monarchy, so 

 a guess maybe made at the least amount of its agricultural produce, but 

 I cannot pretend to determine this. Much again is exported from this pro- 

 vince to the Eiraauks and Huzarahs, and, latterly, to Herat. In cheap 

 times a khurwar, or 100 mans, of wheat is sold for a ducat; we only get a 

 third of this quantity for the same money. 



We made 5 marches to the southward of west, via Alma, Keisu and 

 Charshumbel from Meimunna to the rise of the Moorghaub encamping on 

 its bank at the fort of Karoul Khaneh's a few miles below the fort of Bala 

 Moorghaub which we did not see. In view upon our left during these 5 

 marches was the northermost ridge of the Hindoo Koosh mountains from 

 which w r e descended behind Meimunna. Our road lay upon easy rises and 

 falls through hills of a light clayey soil, enclosing many well watered 

 vallies and giens, in which is cultivated wheat, barley, millet, sesame, flax 

 and cotton ; vineyards and gardens flourish about the villages at the chief of 

 which brisk little fairs are held twice a week for the convenience of the 

 country round. It is a fruitful country which only requires more inhabi- 

 tants, and I learn that the districts on towards Herat, as well as those under 

 the mountains eastward of Meimunna, are of similar character. 



"We found our road to Karoul Khazeh safe, but vigilantly watched by 

 patrolling parties detached by the Walee of Meimunna, the Jemsheiddee 

 tribe, and the Soonnee Huzarahs of Killah. Several cofilas passed us, 

 going to Bokhara with merchandize, or to Meimunna for grain, and we met 

 single Toorkmauns riding horses to Meimunna which they designed to 

 exchange there for slaves. On the 4th March, when we had passed the 

 ruined fort of Kaornach, anciently the Jemsheeddee border mark, we 

 were met by a young chief of the latter tribe, who thinking that our in- 

 fluence might avail him at Herat, complained that he had been driven 



