1849.] Notes on the Geography of Western Afghanistan. 555 



sion in the meridians whence the longitude is to be measured.* From 

 these and many other causes I believe the greatest license may be taken 

 in fixing towns or districts or people, which are not firmly determined 

 by more than one proof or argument. 

 The usually accepted measures are, 



1.087 Greek stadii = 1 English furlong. 

 8.69 „ „ =1 English mile. 



125 Roman passi = 1 Greek stadium. 

 135.8 „ „ = 1 English furlong. 



1.0S7 Roman Millia passuum 1 English mile. 

 These are founded on the passus being considered what in England 

 would be called a double pace — or supposing the legs to be viewed as a 

 pair of compasses ; one foot fixed in the centre and the other describing 

 a circle, the English pace is the radius, but the Roman passus the 

 diameter.f 



Again, are to be well distinguished the natural divisions of countries as 

 indicated by rivers and mountains ; the proper or acknowledged dis- 

 tricts as marked out by long established boundaries ; the political as 

 held under the temporal power, constantly changing of different dynas- 

 ties ; this last is a grand source of error in eastern travels. For instance, 

 we find Kundahar noted as a province of Persia, of Herat, of Seestan } 

 of India, of Kabul and even of Cashmir. Language, religion, and pro- 

 ductions, also afford a means for classification. 



According to Pliny, the Geographers of the Alexandrian expedition, 



* The first Meridian of Ptolemy is some point of the Canary Islands. Say 

 W. 14°. Others consider the first Meridian to be some point of the Azores 

 Say W. 24°. A difference of ten degrees, which we do exactly find to exist be- 

 tween some of the Arabian tables of Longitude. Others assume a western point of 

 the mainland of Spain, and a few authors conceive the point to be a central town 

 of Spain. Hence to mere map-makers the confusion. 



f The Muhummadan measures are extremely variable and difficult to fix ; the 

 commonly accepted version is — 



4000 Zurua = 1 Meel § Zurua = 1 Guz khuyatee. 



3 Meel = 1 Fursukh 8000 Guz = 1 Fursukh. 

 Assuming the Zurua =21 inches. 



The Guz =s 31£ inches. 



The Fursukh = 3.97 British miles or 4.31 Roman miles, 



The Arabian Meel = 1.32 English miles. 

 4 c 2 



