190 Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. [No. 98. 



Khost, fyc. 

 211. Khost and some neighbouring vallies are well watered, 

 and the chief product is rice. The mountains which confine 

 them, afford the natives plenty of timber, fuel, and pasturage. 

 Cows, buffaloes, and goats are the chief stock. Little informa- 

 tion is to be gained concerning this part of the Cabul dominions. 

 It may be observed of the eastern parts of that monarchy, that 

 the middle portion of it although not remarkably unfruitful, con- 

 tributes very little either in men or money to the public strength. 

 Tamerlane made his march to India from Toorkistan through 

 Ghuznee, and thence by the road called Hazar-durnkht, which 

 penetrates the Jadran range, he reached the low country, which 

 is watered by the Koorm, and its numerous branches. In 

 modern times, Cabul is a place of more note than Ghuznee, and 

 the northern road to India through Cabul and Peshawur is the 

 frequented one; in every point of view it is preferable to the 

 middle one. The great southern road from Persia and Khoora- 

 san leads through Candahar, either to Deraghzee Khan or to 

 Shikarpoor, and it is also preferable to the middle one in 

 most points of view. The vallies of Khost, &c. are well culti- 

 vated, and their lands irrigated. In former times a greater num- 

 ber of Ghiljies resorted to this quarter for pasturage in the 

 winter than now. 



Jadrans, fyc. 

 212. The Jadrans and Mookbuls live in a rude state, in very 

 small villages, and their chief subsistence is from their flocks of 

 goats; after which, we may reckon their fields, which yield them 

 wheat, rice, and some other things, and are in general irrigated. 

 They receive some provisions from the Jajees and Torees, after 

 whom the vallies of Jajee and Toree are named, and merchants 

 from Cabul carry cloths, &c. into their country, bringing back 

 ghee of goats' milk, and some goats. The country is very strong, 

 and never pays revenue, nay, in the present low state of the 

 royal authority, certain petty chiefs of the Jadrans have compel- 

 led their neighbours on the skirts of the table land to pay them 

 revenue instead of the king. They use partly houses and partly 

 black tents., which they make for themselves of goat hair. 



