584 Notes on the Geography of Western Afghanistan. [June, 



district is extremely fruitful, its pears are celebrated, as also the small 

 unab, which are as delicate as grapes. The fort was once of great 

 strength. One district, Zawul, was celebrated for its kareez, the waters 

 of some being so strong and ample as to turn mills. 



Ubkal or Ookul to the South, and Junburan to the East, are districts ; 

 from the latter the road leads to Duolutabad, 



Furumgan is mentioned as containing the beautiful carved pulpit of 

 some early saint, which was destroyed by the barbarous Beloochees. 

 This place had the reputation of being older than even Herat. 



To the South, on the Udruskun, were two small forts opposite each 

 other, called Dokhtur and Pesur. 



The modern town of Subzwar is a mean place, consisting of a collec- 

 tion of mud huts. 



Amply watered by the several streams issuing from the mountains, 

 this district was once considered the granary of Herat, but the absence 

 of security and good government has almost destroyed its prospects 

 and reduced it, with all the surrounding country, to a very barren, ill- 

 cultivated, inhospitable tract. The present population is Tajeek and 

 Persian — the dominant tribe Afghans, under a Sirdar from Herat. 



South of Subzwar lies the country called Furah, sometimes consider- 

 ed independent, — indeed once said to have been the capital of a mighty 

 kingdom and the residence of the Persian hero Rostum. It was subse- 

 quently a district of Seestan, but is now claimed as an outwork of 

 Herat. 



The chiefs of Furah have always asserted for themselves a very 

 illustrious descent, and have often struggled to obtain their hereditary 

 freedom ; opposing a foreign yoke. One Governor from Herat is men- 

 tioned as finding them so troublesome that he invited eighteen chiefs 

 to a feast, and murdered the whole ; only one escaping. 



Near the town is a hill called Burunduk or Beechuk ; this contains 

 a natural arch and cavity, from which water constantly drops. This 

 phenomenon is by the vulgar connected with the divine author of all 

 things, and considered a mysterious proof of his hidden power, hence 

 it has become a place of pilgrimage and of votive offerings ; if the water 

 increases in its droppings on the head of the devotee it is a sign of 

 success to his prayer. The place is called Take-sungee and Koh-hejur- 

 baran. 



