798 Report on subjects connected with Affghanistan. [No. 118. 



soon supplanted by it, the Zaitoon forming the chief, if not the only 

 part of the forests, as far as the lower limit of the Deodar, at an 

 elevation of 6,500 feet above the sea. 



Between this and the summits of the ridges which attain a height 

 of about 10,000 feet, the Deodar rules supremely vast in abundance 

 and in size. These forests may be considered as available for Jilalabad 

 and Peshawur. 



As the valley of Olipore is very narrow, and the lowest, which is a 

 considerable one, sweeps in many places under the Oak forests along 

 its right bank ; this timber could be supplied effectually. 



The tree, however, does not reach any size near its lower limit of dis- 

 tribution. Greater labour, and a proportionally greater expense would 

 be required to supply the two others in proportion to their distribution. 



There is perhaps but little prospect of the country about Jilalabad 

 arriving at much importance. A small supply of timber may be 

 demanded by Europeans, but Jilalabad, from its extreme heat, can 

 scarcely become their residence except for the winter months. 



The forests of Olipore are therefore of comparatively little use, and 

 will probably remain so, until Peshawur assumes its real importance. 

 The want of timber about Candahar, though not, if I recollect rightly, 

 in the city itself, is remedied by the construction of the houses, which 

 are generally domed. The houses of Cabul are extremely slight, 

 built of mud and small timbers ; these are supplied exclusively almost 

 by the Poplars, which are planted in many places along the banks of 

 the Logor and Cabul rivers, by which they are carried towards the 

 city during the floods. This timber is white, and very soft ; it does 

 not enjoy fair chances, for the trees are planted so close together, that 

 they not unfrequently grow together, and they are cut prematurely. 



They are quite unfit for building purposes, and some idea may be 

 formed of their perishableness, when it is said that Cabul is renewed 

 once in every 25 years. 



I have already mentioned that the great majority of the cultivated 



The only other trees trees are fruit trees ; these are for many reasons 

 besides the fruit trees 

 known tome, are three not available for the purposes of timber. 



or four kinds of Poplar, ^, ,-,,/., ^ ^ n ^ • t 



three or four of Wil- The great bulk of the vegetable fuel is suppli- 

 thorn. In Baben's gar- ed by the low bushes, chiefly species of Artemisia, 

 very finfFoplars!"^"^ ^^^t occur commonly in the barren parts of the - 



