982 lie'port on subjects connected with Afghanistan. [No. 120. 



palatable, also ghee, and I believe oil. The flesh varies a good deal, 

 but generally was not much esteemed by us. When gram-fed it is, I 

 believe, excellent. 



The sheep are very numerous, and are generally the property of the 

 Nomadee tribes, whose character might make us look with suspicion 

 on the alleged innocence of the pastoral lives of old. In the cold wea- 

 ther, so far as I have seen in eastern Afghanistan, they are congregated 

 in the low districts ; at this season I have seen vast flocks about Lalpore 

 and Dukka. At the commencement of the hot season, they are driven 

 to the high grounds, such as the Hazarah country, between Cabul and 

 Bameean. Each flock appears to be generally led by a goat, to whose 

 movements the sheep pay implicit attention. 



Goats. — Goats are also numerous, and perhaps equally worthy of 

 attention, their wool is used largely ; and appears to be a promising ar- 

 ticle. These and the sheep are the only animals that could derive 

 sufficient nutriment from the Afghan mountains, which generally 

 speaking, are remarkably deficient in grassy vegetation. I think they 

 feed principally on the aromatic and thorny plants, which form the 

 principal mass of the vegetation. 



Dogs. — The common dog of the country appears to approximate 

 a good deal to the Pariah of the plains. But the Tajee grey-hound, 

 a large handsome animal with exceedingly long curly hair about the 

 legs and ears, (I speak of the animal as I have seen it at Cabul in the 

 summer,) might be introduced into England perhaps with advantage. 

 Although doubtless much less speedy than the high-bred English grey- 

 hound, in their bone they may be found to possess advantages which 

 it might be desirable to transfer ; the Afghans are also said to possess 

 excellent pointers, but of these 1 have no personal knowledge. 



AGRicui/ruRAL Products. 



Of the cereaiious or culmiferous plants, Afghanistan possesses wheat, 

 barley, rye, rice, Indian corn, and millet. 



Wheat. — Of these, wheat and barley are the most important gene- 

 rally, although rice and maize, especially the former, constitute a con- 

 siderable proportion of the summer cultivation. Some of the Ghuzni 

 wheat was considered particularly fine. I sent some of the finest I 



