1840.] Wool and Woollen Manufactures of Khorassan. 331 



Sheep's Wool. — Candahar. 



There are two varieties of sheep in this part of Khorassan, both 

 possessing the broad fat tail. Of these the Tymunnee breed is the finest, 

 and the tail often so uncommonly cumbrous as to impede the animal's 

 movements ; in such cases a small cart or support on wheels is placed 

 beneath it, so as to relieve the sheep from the weight, and enable it to 

 walk about. An amusing anecdote, serving to show the ignorant 

 credulity of the people, is told of the method sometimes adopted for 

 increasing the size of these tails. Fresh cold water is poured over the 

 tail every morning, and when thoroughly drenched, it is well patted and 

 rubbed all over by the hand. 



The reason given for this treatment is, " that the water softens the 

 skin, and renders it, as it were, malleable, and consequently the patting 

 and rubbing stretches it, so as to give room for the tail to grow"!! 



The people inhabiting the hill districts, where the pasture is gene- 

 rally better than that of the plains, possess large flocks, and derive 

 their chief support from the sale of wool, woollen stuffs, croot (or dried 

 curds) and ghee. 



These sheep, like the goats already mentioned, yield two fleeces 

 during the year — the winter and summer growth. That of the winter 

 is said to be the worst, on account of the dirt and smoke which it 

 collects while the sheep are folded, which is in woollen tents. It is, 

 however, the longest, and is made into carpets, grain-bags, and other 

 coarse articles. That of autumn is finer, and made into cloaks (kosahs) 

 and nummuds. 



The wool is not exported, but is manufactured in the districts 

 where it is produced. 



In the shearing time the sheep are well washed, and when dried 

 by the sun, are clipped with large shears. The wool undergoes no 

 farther cleaning. The woollens manufactured at Candahar from 

 sheep's wool are made of the fleece, which is procured from the skins 

 of slaughtered animals. If the skins possess merely the short wool, 

 which is the remains of the spring fleece, they are sold by the butchers 

 to the " posteen*" makers at from one to two annas each ; but if the 

 animal is slaughtered in autumn, and possesses the summer fleece, 

 the wool is taken off, and brings two to four annas, while the skin is 

 sold separately to the tanners. 



* Note.— A sort of winter garment of sheep skin with the wool on, universally 

 worn in cold weather. 



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