1840.] from Bactrian and Indo- Scythian coins. 465 



and flowing from Cabul itself in an almost direct line, joins 

 the Indus at Attok, forms as it were the bond, by which the 

 various members of these geographical divisions are connected, 

 and proves their inseparable unity. 



From the high mountains to the north there run to the banks of 

 the Cabul river many streams in valleys, which are either distinct, 

 or connected with others ; each of these valleys, and in an inferior 

 degree every lateral valley, forms an independent district, and 

 hence the various articulation of the whole. 



With regard to these valleys, which we may call after their 

 rivers, all the streams having the most easterly direction, viz. 

 the Abbasin, which is furthest east, and the Burrindu, a little 

 more to the west, flow into the upper Indus, without passing 

 through the Cabul districts. 



More to the westward rises the Sewad, into the valley of 

 which river that of the Penjkora runs from the west, while 

 the Bagar from the south-eastern declivity of the Kanda 

 mountains joins the united Sewad and Penjkora. In the 

 latest map (by Burnes) the three united rivers are called 

 Lundye, which having passed Hashnagara, disembogues into 

 the Cabul river. 



These valleys, descending in terraces towards the Cabul and 

 the Indus, form the mountainous country of the inner boundary 

 of India to the north-west, to which also belongs the plain 

 above the valleys on the banks of the river, as well as the 

 northern declivity of the Tira chain, before mentioned. The 

 plain is hot low land, already manifesting a completely Indian 

 character; Peshawur in the centre of this plain is situated on the 

 banks of the river. The northern districts of the valley form 

 landscapes of a genuinely Alpine character, adorned with all the 

 luxuriant beauty of an almost tropical mountainous country. 



Now between the eastern and western extent of the Cabul 

 country lie the Kanda mountains, with the Sefidkoh as a high 

 wall of separation, which cannot be appropriated to either of 

 those districts. From the central point, whence it spreads its 

 ramifications from the Hindookush to the southward, another 

 high elevation rises, the Belut Tag, which extends in a circle 

 NNE. to the Mustag, and forms, as it were, the northern 



3o 



