1839.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 789 



cumstances) from the ocean into Bulochistan. But we have already 

 seen (paragraph 62) that it does not reach Kilat, the latitude of 

 which is not very different from that of Mooltan. In Jodhpoor it is 

 said the west or north-west wind is the commonest in the spring and 

 summer months, until the commencement of the periodical rains. In 

 the upper Punjab also the winds are represented as being in the 

 various seasons not very different from those of our Upper Provinces. 

 In both countries clouds seem to assemble from easterly points (espe- 

 cially in the rainy season) and winds from westerly points shed their 

 contents. 



65. The winter of 1808-9 was spent by the Cabul Mission chiefly 

 at Beekaneer, between that place and the entrance into the hills be- 

 yond the Indus. It was remarked as being singularly still ; and gen- 

 erally it may be asserted, that in all these countries the winter is 

 calmer than the summer, the night also is usually calmer than the 

 day. Travellers tell us that such is the cold of the Pamer in the 

 autumn — the season in which it is most commonly passed— that did 

 not the wind die away by night, this route would not be practicable. 

 As before observed the mid winds of Toorkistan are not so strong as the 

 midsummer, and in Khoorasan they are not always traceable. In 

 Candahar, and some other situations, the month of October is more re- 

 marked as windy, than the depth of winter. The cold winds of that 

 month, or rather of the sign Scorpio, which begins the 20th of October, 

 strip the trees of their foliage. The same sign of the zodiac is windy 

 in our Upper Provinces and in Peshawur, and in both cases it blows 

 from a westerly point. In Cabul also this season is generally windy, 

 as also in the sign Pisces. 



66. Cabul however though at most seasons breezy, is in none remark- 

 ably windy, the north and west winds chiefly prevail. The same posi- 

 tions are, I presume, true of Ghuznee, which, however, has less shelter. 

 Kushmeer has been already mentioned as possessing a still climate. 

 The stagnation of air is sometimes very disagreeable, especially to 

 those who have been accustomed to the free circulation in Khoorasan. 

 Other places there are remarkable for continual wind, a circumstance 

 owing to their situation between hills, which by confining the current 

 of air accelerates it. Such is Jiimmoo, built not far from the left of 

 the Chunab, and some other places of less note. Jellalabad and 

 Koonur have never-ceasing winds, chiefly from the west. These 

 threaten to bury under sand the good lands of the former. In Pesha- 

 wur and Bajour the prevailing wind during the whole of the summer 

 is said to be the east, and the observations made during the stay of 



