1839.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 761 



which the chief valley is that of Punjsher; Ghoshund and Bamian 

 are not included in this term, and lie more to the west within the 

 skirts of the Paraparnisan. East of the valley of Cabul, after a con- 

 siderable descent, we arrive at the country of Lughman, lying low, 

 under lofty branches of the great northern chain. It is situated to 

 the north or left of the Cabul river, is on the right in the most 

 frequented roads from Peshawur to Cabul, and is of an extent far 

 inferior to that of the valley of Cabul. To the south-east it borders 

 on Jellalabad, a city and district on the right of the Cabul river, 

 diversified with mountains, hills, and plains ; its plain is somewhat less 

 spacious than that of Lughman, The city of Jellalabad is passed in all 

 the roads from Peshawur to Cabul, between which places it is nearly 

 intermediate. To the south is the White mountain, the loftiest of the 

 range of 34° north, and north-east of Jellalabad beyond the Cabul 

 river is the narrow valley of Koonur, lying on the left of the Kashkar 

 river, which joins that of Cabul opposite Jellalabad. To the west of 

 Koonur lies Lughman. 



22. In the enumeration of the chains of mountains, have been 

 already mentioned a branch proceeding from the great northern 

 mountains along the left of the Kashkar river (6) and a branch or 

 branches leaving the range of 34° to the east of Jellalabad, and run- 

 ning in a north-east direction (11). The detached branches of these 

 appear to unite, and together they divide the various districts already 

 mentioned, from the greatest of the plains, which are situated between 

 the great northern and the 34° chain of mountains. This great plain 

 lies from the foregoing in easterly directions. Although there be no 

 complete interruption to the continuity of this plain, yet do the strait 

 roads between its detached portions sometimes pass over branches 

 from the mountains which bound the whole ; that between Peshawur 

 and Bajour conducts north-west, through the Mikmund or Ootman 

 hills (11); we may therefore distinguish Bajour, with the adjoining 

 districts of Punjkera, from the remainder of this great plain which 

 may be called from Peshawur the greatest city it contains. Bajour 

 is peopled by the Purkulanee tribe of Afghans, who are not a part of 

 the Yoosufzyes as supposed by Major Rennel. The chief inhabitants of 

 Koonur are the Degans, who here speak a peculiar tongue. Punjkora 

 is so called as being peopled by five houses or branches of a sub- 

 division of the Yoosufzyes. The plain of Peshawur after those reductions 

 is still comparatively spacious in a country so mountainous as Afgha- 

 nistan. To the north it has the great northern range, which sends 

 branches into it, forming the upper parts of Swad and Bhooner, while 



