602 Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Afghanistan. 



valley of Pisheen by washing the soil, and boiling the water 

 to evaporation ; it sells on the spot at 30 to 32 seers per 

 Candahar rupee (12 annas), and in Candahar during winter 

 it is retailed at 10 to 12 seers, and in summer at 16 to 20 

 seers per Candahar rupee. 



At Kishk-i-nakhood on the road to Greeshk, a salt is also 

 made in the same manner, and sells at 50 seers per Candahar 

 rupee; while in Candahar during summer the price is 20 to 22 

 seers per Candahar rupee, and in winter from 12 to 14 seers. 

 The best salt comes from Gurmsael, where it is reported to 

 be carried down in solution by the waters of a stream from 

 the hills. These saliferous waters are said to spread over 

 the plain, and to form an extensive swamp where the water 

 evaporates and the salt remains in cakes, and is broken 

 up like ice. It sells on the spot at 12 Rs. per camel load 

 of 7 to 8 maunds in weight, and in Candahar during summer 

 it is retailed at 12 to 16 seers per Candahar rupee, and in 

 winter at 8 to 10 seers. The duty on the loads brought to 

 Candahar, is 1J annas per donkey load, and 2 annas per 

 camel load. 



This account would lead one to believe, that the stream in 

 question must proceed from hills where the salt formation 

 occurs. Rock-salt comes from the Kohistan of Cabul, and 

 is sold in Candahar at 7 to 8 seers per Candahar rupee, and 

 is retailed by the shops at 4 to 5 seers. 



The variety termed " Shore" is gathered from the sur- 

 face, and is an impure subcarbonate of soda, which in some 

 parts of the country is very abundant, covering large areas 

 like snow. 



27. Saltpetre, or Shorah. Occurs at Killa Azim, not far 

 from Candahar on the road to Cabul, and is obtained in the 

 same manner as the salt of Pisheen ; the earth is dug from 

 the plain, and well saturated with water, which is afterwards 

 drawn off into a vat, and then boiled to evaporation. It sells 

 in Candahar at 6 to 7 annas per seer. The duty is the same 



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