840 Itinerary from Herat to Cabool via Candahar. [No. 154. 



On quitting Shahabad, we left the high road to the right, and took 

 a cross route ; the reason which induced our guide to this, was, that he 

 wished to avoid the troops of Mahomed Shah, which were encamped in 

 the plain beyond, and who were committing dreadful ravages. The 

 country we passed over was very hilly, it was intersected by two small 

 streams, the Ghag and Adreska, which coming from the N.E., are said to 

 fall into that of Furrah. At the time of our crossing them, they were near- 

 ly dry, but at the melting of the snow, they swell to that size, that the 

 caravans are often obliged to halt for many days. This country was co- 

 vered with the wild pistachio, which in autumn, is covered with a rich 

 fruit. This tree seems to flourish best in barren spots, it gives forth a 

 quantity of gum in white drops, of which the people make no use. They 

 gather the fruit, which they take as a stomachic. After making two mar- 

 ches, we descended into the plain of Dowlutabad, debouching from the 

 Korek chain of hills by rather a difficult descent ; more to the West, 

 there is a much easier descent, by which goes the high road leading to 

 Furrah, the birth-place of the famous Rustam, the Hercules of Persia, and 

 who is so often made mention of in the Shah-Namah of Firdousee. The 

 plain upon which this place stands, is, for the most part uncultivated, if 

 we except its immediate environs ; it is intersected from E. to W. by a 

 small river, which, having its source in the Firouz Khan mountains, 

 passes through a part of Seistan, and finally empties itself in the lake of 

 Zeri, or may be the Aria-polas of the ancients. I presume, that this river 

 is no other than the Pharnacotes of the Greeks, and that the city of Fur- 

 rah is the Phra of antiquity. At the time we crossed this river, it had 

 but little water in it, but in spring, it is said to be full and rapid ; the bed 

 is pebbly, and its banks covered with tents inhabited by Noorzyes. On 

 quitting this plain, we left the high road to the left, to follow a bye- 

 path, which led through a pass called Rindzye Endgoust ; a terrible road 

 for our poor-laden beasts, and bad enough for those on foot. This de- 

 file is remarkable on its eastern side for having its entrance like a gate- 

 way, formed by two enormous rocks ; a small stream which rises here, 

 gives a picturesque appearance to the place. The high road leads 

 through the Kasserman pass, about six pharsacs higher up, and which 

 is in no way difficult. From this we entered upon an extensive plain, 

 opening as far as the eye could reach towards the South, through the 

 middle of which was running a small stream, called the Ibrahim, and 



