166 Ibn HuohuVs account of Khorasan. [No. 2. 



the king has no right to the kingdom unless he is residing at Kabul 

 on attaining it — should he be at a distance, he does not obtain the 

 power until returning to Kabul. This city is also a grand emporium 

 of Indian produce. Bulkh produces the Bactrian camel, superior to 

 those of any other district, also oranges, water-lilies and sugar-cane, 

 which are products of warm climates, but no dates. Snow falls in the 

 neighbourhood. Nugruo, Segawund and Kabul are warm climates 

 but still produce no dates. 



Ghoou is surrounded on all sides by Mohummudan countries, but 

 the inhabitants are infidels, except a few who pass for Mohummudans. 



The country is of mountains ; their language is different from 

 the Persian language ; the earth is fruitful in crops, cattle and 

 flocks. I have admitted it into Khorasan, because it is surrounded 

 on three sides by this country, one boundary is Seestan. 



Most of the slaves from Ghoor are carried to Herat or Seestan 

 or in those directions. At the back of Ghoor, stretches a range of 

 mountains reaching to Bameeyan, Punjheer and Wakhan. 



It then passes into Mawazolnuhr crossing Sar and Shash, and con- 

 cluding in the country of the Khurgheez. 



This range from beginning to end contains mines of silver and of 

 lead. The most pure comes from the country of the Kherkheez, 

 Ferghanah and Shash ; but the best obtainable in Mohummudan 

 countries is from Punjheer and its dependencies. 



I will sketch the banks of the Juehoon and Kharism in my ac- 

 count of Mawazolnuhr. 



Amol and Zum are two places of equal size on the banks of the 

 Juehoon, having running water, gardens and cultivation. Amol is 

 the point of meeting of the various roads from Khorasan. Zum is 

 less populous than Amol, it is also a well known ferry. These places 

 are surrounded by the desert which extends from Bulkh to the sea 

 of Kharism — the soil is chiefly sandy, with no springs, only a few 

 ponds and wells for water and pasture-lands. This desert reaches 

 back to Merv from Amol. A similar one also separates these dis- 

 tricts from Kharism and the countries of the Ghoz tribes. Wells 

 are dug and much cattle are produced, but the best breed of camels 

 in Khorasan is from Surukhs and Bulkh. The sheep are mostly 

 imported from the Ghoz districts, from Ghoor and from Khuluj. 



