1838.] the Ghorband mines, and Hindu Kdsh. 537 



In the neighbourhood of Lohuk they were particularly abundant, and in 

 one place, the beds cut through by a torrent shewed a thickness of 50 

 feet, the individual layers not exceeding 1 to 3 inches. 



On our way back through the plain of Koh-i-Ddman we paid a visit 

 to Reg-rowan (the flowing sand), which has long been an object of 

 wonder, and veneration to the natives. It is simply a bed of loose 

 sand on the slope of a hill, which if set in motion by any cause, as by 

 the wind or by a man, rolling down from the top, produces lengthened 

 sonorous vibrations not unlike those of the string of a bass-viol. The 

 fact is mentioned by Baser who compares the noise to that of drums 

 or nagarehs, and a corresponding fact has been noticed as occurring at 

 Jubbul Tor on the shore of the Red Sea. On my way into Kabul I 

 noticed two other similar though smaller collections of sand on project- 

 ing hills, and in all cases these projections faced the south. The sand 

 is such as would proceed from the disintegration of granite consisting 

 chiefly of quartz and hornblende, but there is no rock of the kind near- 

 er than the opposite side of the plain. A west or southwest wind 

 would certainly have no difficulty in transporting it this distance, and if 

 so brought it would naturally collect on the projections I have men- 

 tioned, which are at right angles with the general lie of the hill-range 

 here, and form so many rocks or corners. I am hardly as yet justified 

 in making any inference respecting the frequency of such winds, but I 

 may state the simple fact that on referring to my register for the 20 

 days, I spent in Kabul, September 20th to October 10th, I find that 

 during 14 days of them, these winds prevailed. 



We returned over the Dusht i Baghram which antiquarians seem to 

 have fixed on as the site of Alexandria ad Caucasum. The num- 

 ber of coins found here principally Grecian and Cufic, is immense. 

 Mr. Masson last year procured no less than 35,000 ; and during a halt 

 of a few hours, two children employed by Lieutenant Wood picked up 

 from 20 to 30. 



On my arrival at Kabul I had the gratification to find a message 

 awaiting me from Sheer Muhammad Minad Bey, requesting my pro- 

 fessional attendance on his brother who has long suffered from an eye 

 complaint. 



The consequence is that I am now with Captain Burnes' permission 

 passing the winter in Kunduz, while Lieutenant Wood, who accompa- 

 nied me, is on his way to investigate the source of the Oxus. 



