1840.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 39 



are ruins of very magnificent dams within the Paraparnisan 

 mountains. Somewhat similar to dams, are tanks, very much used 

 in irrigation in some quarters of India, but very little in any 

 of those countries, and in most of them not at all. The method 

 of scooping water is probably unknown beyond the provinces 

 which border on India. 



171. India has two harvests in the year, the products of 

 which are for the most part distinct, but not always. The rubbee, 

 sown in autumn and the beginning of winter, is cut in the spring, 

 and consists chiefly of wheat, barley, chunna, musoor, peas, 

 and beans, most of which are raised in cold climates also. The 

 khureef sown during the rains, or immediately before them, is 

 reaped in the autumn, which is the harvest time of the higher 

 latitudes ; but the khureef products are seldom capable of 

 being cultivated to advantage in them, being rice, maize, jooaree, 

 bajra, moth, moong, oord, murhwa or baggy, and some others. 

 These two harvests thus distinguished, extend as far as Jellalabad 

 and Lughman, and generally to the cold climates ; but these 

 last, and also the warmer ones beyond them, are com- 

 monly said to have the rubbee only ; this is strictly true 

 of the very coldest, — such as the Tibets, the greater part of the 

 Huzara country, the upper parts of Budukhshan, and some 

 others ; but with respect to the more temperate, some cir- 

 cumstances may be stated in modification of it. It is of little 

 importance what phraseology we adopt, provided the facts be 

 kept in mind. 



172. Even in Cabul many products of the khureef are 

 actually raised, and probably all might be raised. In the whole 

 of the west of Toorkistan beyond the Oxus, and of Bactria, 

 jooaree is one of the greatest crops in the country, and does not 

 fall short of the Indian either in quantity or quality of "produce. 

 We may trace it into the country of the Kuzzaks and Kirghizes. 

 Maize grows in all but the coldest countries, as well as in 

 India, except that there it is sooner ripe. It has been but lately 

 introduced into Cabul, Candahar, and most other of the neigh- 

 bouring countries. In those quarters it is raised not to be 

 ground into flour, but be eaten whole after being roasted. Mash, 

 which includes oord and moong, is a common produce in Toorkis- 



