1840.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 49 



in the southern parts of the valley and its skirts ; some is 

 brought from the extremities of the Hazara country. From 

 Toorkistan are brought sheep, but seldom either ghee or lambs. 

 From the Hazara country come considerable numbers of 

 sheep. In the spring, lambs are had from the Ghiljies. Horses 

 and ponies are imported from Toorkistan, but some are fed 

 up in the valley. The people drink from streams, but those of 

 the city in part use wells. Fuel is brought to the city chiefly from 

 the south ; the chief supply of timber is from the mountain Kul- 

 kucha, three days to the east of Cabul. In the valley itself there 

 is a good deal of cultivated wood, being that of fruit trees, willows, 

 and sycamores. In Kohistan there is abundance of natural 

 timber, but it is not required. The orchards of this valley, 

 which are very numerous, are chiefly in the Kohdamun, and in it 

 the valley of Irtalif is much celebrated for the excellence and 

 profusion of its fruits, and also for its picturesque beauties ; still 

 the most interesting object to the people is tillage. The chief 

 pasturage is in Logur and the south, as also towards Ghorbund. 

 The Tuppa of Bootkehak is that in which agriculture is most 

 pursued. In the whole valley the watered lands much exceed 

 the un watered, but in the southern skirts there are some small 

 spaces in which the reverse is true. Fodder is scarce and dear in 

 Cabul, and most parts of the valley ; artificial grasses constitute 

 a considerable part of it in those quarters where pasturage 

 is much pursued. A part of the population live under tents, 

 in summer but otherwise houses are used, and the most com- 

 mon kind is the flat, roofed/ In Cabul, which is a close built 

 town, house rent and ground rent are very dear. The chief live 

 | stock is in cows, except where pasturage is followed, and 

 j there sheep are a more important object. A considerable trade 

 is carried on by the Cabulese, especially with Toorkistan and 

 Hindoostan ; the late distractions have thrown obstacles in 

 the way of trade, but otherwise little affected the prosperity 

 of this city and district. The population of the city may be 

 guessed at 60,000 souls ; the villages are various sized, and on an 

 average may contain 150 families ; they are not fortified, but in- 

 variably contain small castles or private forts, of very contempti- 

 )le strength. There are few wastes or spaces ill supplied with 



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