1844.] Itinerary from Yezd to Herat 829 



from which was employed in casting several pieces of cannon, now to 

 be seen at Birdjan. 



The hills of Guisk are of a light red, which seems to prove them of a 

 volcanic nature, and on the western side near the tomb of Sultan Ibra- 

 him Reza, flows a moderately warm mineral spring, to which the inha- 

 bitants of the country gq on pilgrimage, and drink the water for the 

 benefit of their health. Many snakes are to be met with on this range, 

 the bite of which is fatal. 



Not far from the ruins of Gazun, is a stream, the water of which 

 has a strong acid taste, near to Tubbus is another of a corroding nature. 



Upon all the ranges of hills which extend from Batal to Herat, the 

 people of the country gather a sort of gum called " terendjebin," of 

 which the Persian medical practitioners make great use : it exudes from 

 a small thorny shrub which grows in tufts, and which resembles the 

 plant the camels are so fond of. The flower is whitish, like that of 

 the lettuce, which on dropping off, gives place to a milky substance that 

 congeals into yellow drops, which is the gum. For the purpose of 

 collecting it, the inhabitants first cut the bush, allow it to dry, and then 

 sift it. This plant grows wild in most of these sterile plains. 



The greatest quantity of this gum is gathered in the district of En- 

 goonzik, where also is found the asafoetida ; the plant which produces 

 the latter, grows in almost all these hills, particularly those of Kel- 

 mond, Tabas and Khiliki ; and those which extend to the West of Herat. 

 The plant grows to two or three feet high, the stem is straight, and 

 resembles very much the coarse fennel of Corsica, it has thick roots, 

 which extend to a considerable distance. To extract the asafoetida, 

 it is necessary, in spring time, to cut the stem close to the earth to pre- 

 vent its shooting, when during this season, a milky gum flows from it, 

 which becomes hard. Every night this is removed with the blade of a 

 knife, and every ten or twelve days a fresh incision is made to allow 

 the gum to flow freely. Those who follow this avocation, take the 

 precaution to cover the plants, to preserve them from the heat of the 

 sun. It is sold to the Hindoos of Herat, who send it on to India, where 

 it is much used in cooking. 



In addition to these two plants, many are found in the hills, said to 

 possess medicinal properties, and annually collected by the druggists 

 of the country. 



