1841.] the N. W. Frontier Trade with Afghanistan. 257 



provinces, with the view of ascertaining whether sale would be ob- 

 tained for it ; since that period no attempt has since been made to 

 force the manufactures of Russia into our markets. 



Imports. 



Previously to the opening of the Cabool trade by the result of 

 recent political events, exports were greatly disproportioned to im- 

 ports ; the dangers of the route, and other obvious causes, rendering 

 it most unsafe to convey foreign and valuable articles, which could 

 tempt the cupidity of the lawless hordes, inhabiting the countries 

 through which the route lay. The imports were, in consequence, 

 converted into specie, and not, as now, paid for in kind : so that the 

 advantage all lay on the side of Cabool. 



In the statements of import trade, only such articles as yield 

 a duty to the British Government are shewn. Of these, the chief 

 is assafcetida, which always meets with ready sale in our provinces. 

 There is perhaps no country in the world where assafcetida is more 

 commonly used than in Hindoostan. 



Saffron is in less common use ; the price placing it beyond the means 

 of any but the rich, and a preference being given to that which is 

 brought from Calcutta, imported from the Persian Gulph in Arab ships. 



Besides the duty-paying staples, fruits, sarsaparilla, salopmisry, 



lapis lazuli, medicinal drugs, opium, and churrus, comprize the 



import trade of Cabool. In the margin* is appended a note, shew- 



» „ . . .,.. „ , . . ing the number of camel loads 



* Raisins, e 1774 Camel loads. ° 



Pistachio Nuts, 182 ditto, of fruit, amounting to 4,000, 



Monukkas ' 592 ditt0 - which crossed our frontier 



Khobaunies, 90 ditto. 



Pears, 108 ditto. fr<> m November 1838 to April 



Pomegranates, 605 ditto. 1839. The operations of this 



Walnuts, 14 ditto. . i , . » 



period are shewn in preference 



Prunes, 71 ditto. r r 



Almonds, 379 ditto, to any other, as being the least 



plumbs > 66 ditto favourable, inconsequence of 



Grapes, 105 ditto. , ... 



FigS) H ditt0 . the military preparations in pro- 



— — gress at that period, by which 



4,000 the trade was partially check - 



Fruit is only imported in the cold season. j ., . ., „„. 



ed ; so that there was a falling 

 off of nearly one-fourth in the imports of previous years, and one- 

 tenth of those of 1840. 



