Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Affghanistan. 565 



becomes necessary to be extremely careful that the flame 

 is not communicated to the walls, so as to ignite the sulphur. 

 There is likewise a small well of brackish water within the 

 mine, which however is turned to no account. The petro- 

 leum is rendered useful by mixing it with the dust and 

 small fragments of sulphur, from which, by boiling, a coarse 

 dark-coloured brimstone, of inferior quality, is extracted. 

 The pure native sulphur is broken into pieces and boiled in 

 oil, from which the common yellow brimstone of commerce 

 is produced. Candahar is partly supplied with sulphur from 

 these mines and partly from Gurmsael and Bulkh ; that from 

 Gurmsael is reckoned inferior to the others, and sells at a 

 lower price. When the markets are well stocked, the best 

 sulphur sells at from 2J to 3 annas per seer,* and that 

 from Gurmsael at about one anna less. But in the winter 

 season, and at other times, when it is scarce, it sells at from 

 7 to 8 annas per seer.f The brimstone is usually made at the 

 mines, and afterwards pays a duty at Candahar of l-40th. It 

 constitutes an article of the Affghan Materia Medica, and is 

 also used for curing itch or feverish eruptions in camels, a 

 disease which regularly attacks them at the commencement 

 of the hot weather, when the old coat of hair falls off. A 

 small quantity is used by the chemists in the preparation of 

 sulphuric acid, but by far the greater portion is employed in 

 the manufacture of coarse gunpowder. Another sulphur 

 mine is said to exist in the direction of Seevee, among the 

 Murrhyes, but of it, I could gain no particulars. 



Proceeding onwards from the town of Bhag towards 

 Dadur, the soil is still alluvial, until some miles beyond 

 Mahasur the road winds through hills of crumbling sands and 

 clays, plentifully studded with water-worn pebbles of trap, 

 nummulite limestones, sandstones, fyc. These hills have a 



* Taking the rupee at two shillings, the price is from 3%d. to \\d. per seer, or 

 about 2 lbs.. Or ! %d. to 1\d. per lb. 

 f That is, from b\d. to 6d. per lb. 



