52 Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. [No. 97- 



two crops in the year, as there are in Kuja also. The chief 

 subsistence of the people is from tillage, but they have con- 

 siderable herds of cows and buffaloes. 



It may be observed, however, that in these countries 

 the keeping of both these animals depends, or is supposed to 

 depend, on agriculture. In the winter great flocks of sheep 

 pasture in certain parts, but they do not belong to the in- 

 habitants of this country, but to the Ghiljies to the west. The 

 khureef is the greater crop, and in it, rice; but the quantity 

 of maize is also considerable. The wheat, barley, and maize are 

 nearly equal. A part of the wheat and barley are raised Mm, 

 and some is spring sown ; all the khureef is irrigated expect 

 it be some jooaree, which is raised for green food; that 

 plant is not cultivated for its grain in any of the districts north 

 of the range of 34°, and bajra is not to be seen. In Jellalabad 

 the quantity of chuna is very small. For watering their lands 

 they use living streams, and in certain parts rills from springs. 

 There are no kahrezas, or dams, but in some quarters khwurs 

 are turned to account. Wheat is imported from Bajour into 

 the town of Jellalabad, which may contain 10 or 12,000 in- 

 habitants. To Cabul is exported sugar and cotton, some apricots 

 and pomegranates; the pomegranates of Kuja are much esteem- 

 ed. Cabul returns chiefly dried fruits. Jellalabad lying on the 

 road from the east to the west, certain of the inhabitants of its 

 villages subsist by the hire of mules and other animals ; and 

 the supplying of provisions to travellers of all descriptions is 

 an important object. Fodder is in general but moderately 

 plentiful. For fuel they burn dung, shrubs, and those along 

 the river, drift wood. The chief supply of timber is from the 

 white mountain, and others connected with it. The houses 

 are flat-roofed. In the villages they drink from streams or 

 springs. In the town there are also some draw wells. There 

 is little fruit compared with the countries to the west; and if 

 we subtract the transit trade, the district carries on but little 

 traffic. The inhabitants are few who use tents in any season of 

 the year. Their villages are small, and there are consider- 

 able tracts, both hill and plain, without cultivation, and some of 

 these without water. Bullocks are the chief carriage within 



