804 Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. |J3ct. 



a robust race, and excelled by none in carrying burdens over moun- 

 tains. The Huzaras and Oozbucks, especially the former, are broad 

 in their persons, and strong. The water drawn in the interior of 

 Cabul disagrees with strangers, and there is a good deal of sickness 

 among the poor by reason of their being ill accommodated, and the 

 town too closely built, otherwise the climate is not unhealthy, and 

 Peshawur is not inferior to it. Scrofula, a complaint little known in 

 India, is not uncommon. among the Daoodzyes, and some other tribes. 



89. Khoorasan is undoubtedly a healthy country; and in Toorkistan 

 we can name only a few situations which deserve to be called un- 

 healthy. The most remarkable is Bulkh, which is afflicted with eye- 

 complaints, all species of fevers, consumptions, the Guinea-worm, 

 dropsy, and many other diseases; yet some of its villages have a good 

 air. The most remarkable complaint of Bokhara is the Guinea- worm, 

 which appears in some other situations in the east of Toorkistan and 

 Bactria, in some villages of Candahar, in certain parts of Huzara and 

 of the Pahar-turee of our provinces (see paragraph 71)> in Hureeana 

 Haroutee, and many other quarters of India. In all cases it is com- 

 monly ascribed to the quality of the water. In Toorkistan the inhabi- 

 tants of those cities in which it is most prevalent drink from tanks, the 

 water of which is only occasionally renewed. Where running water 

 is to be had the disease disappears; yet I have heard it pretended 

 that there is something in the air of Bokhara which occasions it, and 

 a pleasing story is told of a certain Moolla who was sceptical in this 

 particular. Being persuaded the water only was to blame, he resolved 

 to use none but that of water-melons, and confidently expected to 

 escape ; but before he had passed a year in Bokhara he had a number 

 of worms extracted from his body. The only other local complaints 

 deserving of mention is the Goitre, which is now supposed to be the 

 consequence of drinking water impregnated with certain minerals; 

 it is not unknown in Bactria, but its chief seats are the banks of the 

 Kishun Gunga, Sirn, and Pech. The waters of the Uba Seen have 

 somewhat of the same bad quality, and Goitres are common in certain 

 parts of the Gukhur and Khatir countries. It is asserted, that on the 

 banks of the Pech even the dogs and tame birds are affected. 



(To be continued.) 



