1841.] Beport on subjects connected with Afyhanistan. 989 



To the list may be added perhaps the zurishk or barberry, which is 

 generally eaten as a preserve ; a sort of bhair called aral ; the dried pulp 

 of the sinjit, a species of Eleagnis, commonly planted about water- 

 courses in the finer vallies and an Hippophaee, which I was told v/as 

 considered a fruit at Cabul. Date trees, but very few, occur at Jellala- 

 bad ; this fruit is imported in considerable quantities. Citrons also are 

 common in the Jellalabad gardens. The palm of superiority of fruits 

 is I believe, disputed by Cabul and Candahar. Ghuzni is celebrated for 

 its plums, to which, and to apples, its supply is chiefly limited. The 

 fruit season lasts throughout the summer months; there will of course 

 be some difference between the seasons at Candahar and at Cabul. 

 The earlier fruits are chiefly confined to such stone fruits as cherries 

 and plums. The grand season at Cabul is in August and September. 

 The most widely distributed fruit tree is the common mulberry ; this 

 is found everywhere, up to elevations of 8 and 9,000 feet ; wherever 

 there is a village, there will be found the white mulberry. 



The range of the apricot may be stated as between 3,000 and 8,000 

 feet, it is also met with higher, but scarcely produces beyond that 

 elevation. I have seen it in the Erak ravine as high as 10,500 feet. 

 Walnuts are, so far as I know, limited to considerable altitude, such 

 as that of Cabul, 6,400 feet. 



Pomgranates range from 1,200 to 5,000 feet, at Khujjah ; 4,500 

 feet above the sea, they are said to attain great perfection. With 

 regard to cultivation, I am not aware that any great skill is applied. 

 To the unclouded summer sky, the great dryness of the air during 

 the season, the goodness of the soil, and facilities of irrigation, I am 

 inclined to attribute the good qualities of the fruits. It is scarcely 

 necessary to add, that all the trees are standards. Most, if not all the 

 stone fruits, as well as the apples, pears, and mulberries, are planted 

 as orchards. The grapes at Candahar are planted in trenches, to 

 the north face of which they are confined ; in most other parts, they 

 appear to be allowed to scramble over trees. 



Introduction of the Afghan fruits into India. — A good deal 

 has, I believe, been said of the probability of the successful in- 

 troduction of the Afghan fruits into India. But if we look at 

 the opposite peculiarilies of the two climates, to speak generally, 

 we are not, I think, warranted in expecting such a result. I do 



