1006 Lieut. If rein's Memoir of Afghanistan. [Dec. 



venomous snakes. The locust is found in these countries, but com- 

 mits the greatest ravages in the warm ones and the open plains; it is 

 commonly observed that they are brought by an easterly wind. Two 

 seasons are yet well remembered in which these insects ravaged a part 

 of Khoorasan. They have visited Cabul in this manner but once in 

 the present generation. 



144. The wild bee, of the kind which we have domesticated, is a 

 stranger to Cabul, Khoorasan, and Toorkistan. Its nests are very com- 

 mon in the woods of Kushmeer, and beyond the Indus we find them 

 as far as some parts of the Kafeir's country ; in the south they are plen- 

 tiful; at Bels, on the borders of Bulochistan, they are made on the 

 branches of trees or shrubs, in the clefts of trees, or even on the ground, 

 and contain as far as 30tbs. of honey and wax, but the average is only 

 one-third of this amount. In the warm climates are two seasons of 

 honey, one in May another in October, but the latter only is known in 

 the cold. Two kinds of bees are distinguished, a smaller and larger. 

 The larger has been chiefly domesticated in Kushmeer. A large 

 earthen vessel is built into the wall of a dwelling house, care being 

 taken to turn the mouth inwards, and to perforate the bottom of the 

 vessel, by which means the bee shall have access to it from without. 

 The mouth of the vessel is shut up, but so, that the owner may open it 

 when he intends taking his share of the honey. Things being thus 

 prepared, a colony of bees are introduced, and being fed on sugar, 

 soon become reconciled to their dwelling. At the proper season the 

 owner takes his share of the honey, and leaves a portion for the susten- 

 ance of the bees. The Kushmeerees leave them very little, but 

 make some amends by introducing from time to time boiled pitha 

 as their food. 



145. Fish are an important article of diet only in Kushmeer, Sindh, 

 and the neighbouring coast. The species known in our upper pro- 

 vinces, for the most part are found in the rivers of the Punjab and at 

 Peshawur; in Kushmeer. however, the alligator and that other more 

 dangerous animal which the Hindoostanees call mugur, never appear 

 to enter the river, nor are they known in Khoorasan or Toorkistan. 

 Khoorasan has few fish, even if we comprehend Seestan and its lake. 



146. This lake is more noted for fowling than fishing. Among its 

 reeds are great numbers of a web-footed bird, which the natives call 

 ghoo, and catch in nets solely with a view to its feathers, which are 

 used in stuffing pillows, and for other purposes. In all these countries 

 ducks are found in a domestic state, but never in great numbers. At 

 Tashkund geese are kept. The common fowl is much kept by the 



