1841.] Report on subjects connec ed with Ajfghanutan. 799 



country. They are not good fuel, except perhaps for particular 

 purposes, having no bulk, and burning very rapidly. They are, I believe, 

 chiefly used by the bakers, and the loads, carried generally on asseS, 

 constitute not one of the least nuisances of the crowded and confined 

 streets of Cabul. From Taizeen supplies of Baloot branches are 

 brought to Cabul, as well as a good deal of charcoal prepared from it 

 and the Deodar. But the price is enormous. I have heard officers say, 

 that the daily expense for fuel, during the severity of winter, was not 

 unfrequently three rupees. 



Nevertheless, the experiment might be tried with some of the indi- 

 genous trees, on the better parts of these same slopes. Attention 

 should, I think, be chiefly directed to the Baloot, which is the only tree 

 that has striven to establish itself on the barrenness of an Affghan 

 mountain. The Zaitoon and Deodars of Olipore cease abruptly, the 

 Baloot struggles on from Koonur to Taizeen. 



The growth of the timber trees now cultivated should be discourag- 

 ed as much as possible, as soon as efficient European timber trees 

 have been introduced. This may be a matter of time, but scarcely of 

 difficulty, considering the state of perfection the overland interchanges 

 of seeds between Drs. Royle and Falconer. I have appended to the 

 report a list of the various desiderata. 



In all the lower parts of the country the best of the timber trees of 

 the dry plains of the N. W. might be introduced. In such parts as 

 about the Koonur valley, the Sissoo is occasionally met with ; to it the 

 Seriss, Jamun, Kikhur, &c. might advantageously be added. Around 

 each of the main places in the country, small plantations might ad- 

 vantageously be made, particularly of such timber trees as are best 

 adapted for the purposes of military arsenals. Thus at Jilalabad and 

 Candahar, the Sissoo might be planted with reasonable prospects of 

 success ; for the supply of Cabul and Ghuzni we must look to Europe 

 and the Himalayahs. At present I know, it is next to impossible to re- 

 pair or construct properly a gun-carriage; the Plane tree is the only 

 available one, and besides not possessing even ordinary merit, is procur- 

 able with difficulty. I cannot offer any particular suggestion towards 

 supplying Candahar with fuel ; with regard to Cabul, I may be allowed 

 to suggest a comprehensive survey of the Taizeen forests, and of the 

 other wooded portions of the Sufaid Koh in that direction ; particular 



5 I 



