1856.] Narrative of the Travels of Khwajah Ahmud Shah. 357 



here ; there are two boats at this ghat (the property of the Bokhara 

 king) ; the breadth of the river is very great ; you cannot distinguish 

 a man's features across the steam ; it is more than four times the 

 breadth of the Jhelum at Sounuggur ; one boat can make but two 

 trips in the course of the same day ; all the hifilahs cross at this 

 place. It is three marches from this ferry to Balkh : upon crossing 

 the river the aspect of the country quite changes, you are now in a 

 cultivated country covered with villages tolerably populated, I 

 forget the names of the halting places, provisions of all sorts 

 plentiful, even for an army ; there are no Seraies for travellers. 



Balkh is an old ruined city, containing the remains of many old 

 buildings. Hot winds blow here, as also occasionally the Simoom ; for 

 fear of the latter, travellers seldom stay at Balkh itself but go on 

 to Muzaree Shureef where there is a well known Izearut and also a 

 town. This is now the residence of Sirdar Ufzul Khan ; it is consi- 

 dered healthier and cooler than Balkh itself. I could hear nothing 

 of Mr. Wyburd here, so on the 23rd June I went a long night's 

 march to — 



1st, Yarh Kooryhan, this is a small city which is also called 

 Khoollum ; the present ruler is Mahomed Shureef Khan. It is a 

 cooler place than Balkh and the country is irrigated by numerous 

 hill streams. 



2nd, Lungi, a short march through hills. A tax called Khurygya 

 is here levied upon every horse. 



3rd, Ghuznee Kuk, to-day's march is good for camels, and even 

 for guns, which were taken up by this route when Mahomed Shureef 

 Khan was turned out. 



4th, Char Baghi Sultan, country hilly, road difficult, crossing many 

 streams, no provisions to be got. 



5th, Hybuk ditto, ditto. 



6th, Saibagh. 



7th, Khoorum. ^ 



8th, Itowee. 



9th, Doab. 

 10th, Budder. 

 11th, Kamurd. 

 12th, Saighan. 

 13th, Akrabuk. 



Water is plentiful, road tolerable 

 for camels, provisions scarcely pro- 

 curable, road passes up and down hills 

 during: the whole distance. 



