1840.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 53 



the district, and in its intercourse with others, perhaps mules are 

 most used. 



Gundumuk — Ishpan — Khingul — Tugao, fyc . 

 187- By means of these names it is intended to designate 

 that space of country which lies between Cabul and Kohistan 

 to the west, and Jellalabad and Lughman to the east, being 

 itself bounded to the north and south by two great ranges of 

 mountains or their branches. It is very diversified, and its 

 importance is not sufficient to justify the lengthened details 

 requisite for fully explaining the nature of its various parts. 

 A very great part of it, or its borders, is uncultivated pasture, 

 chiefly hilly; there are few considerable spaces destitute of 

 water. The villages are generally small, but there are some 

 large ones. The population of a given surface is greatest 

 in Tugao; Khingul and Tugao belong to the Safees, a tribe 

 of Afghans formerly more numerous than now, and lie to the 

 north. South of them, in the present tract, are Ghiljies and 

 some Khogeeanus. With the exception of Tugao, the khureef 

 is the greater crop in this tract, and of it, rice and mash ; and 

 quantities of these are exported to Cabul. The rubbee har- 

 vest being here earlier than in Cabul, a portion of the crop is 

 sold in that city to great advantage immediately before the 

 harvest commences in the valley. With respect to the fixed 

 inhabitants, agriculture is more important to them than pas- 

 turage, and cows are their chief live stock; but as the wan- 

 dering Ghiljies from the west pasture their flocks here during 

 a part of the year, it is a matter of doubt whether the district 

 is to be called an agricultural or pastoral one. The numerous 

 flocks of the Ghiljies consuming the grass, fodder bears a 

 considerable price, especially in the cold part of the year ; but 

 in Tugao it is cheap. The natives live in houses which are flat- 

 roofed, and timber is easily procurable in most situations, as 

 is fuel from shrubs or branches of trees; and they drink from 

 the numerous springs and streams. Provisions are cheap, but it 

 is to be remembered that the population is small. Some sheep 

 are bought from the Ghiljies. Besides provisions some pome- 

 granates and other fruits are sent to Cabul before they come in 



