355 



CHAPTER XV. 

 Candahar to Gabul. 



The good old Moolla of a mosque, to which we resort daily, gives me 

 the following information about the vegetable products of this coun- 

 try, from which it would seem, that every thing not producing food, 

 is looked upon with contempt. The fruit trees, are — 



1. Sha-aloo, Aloo-bookhara, (damson), which has ripe fruit in 

 August, the same time as figs ; Zurd-aloo, (apricot), /4/oocAa-apricot, 

 Shuft-aloo, another kind of apricot ; Unar, (pomegranate) ; TJngoor, 

 (grapes) ; Unjeer, (guava) ; Bihee, (figs) ; Umroot, Toot, (mulberry) ; 

 Aloogoordaigoo, Shuft-aloo, all these Aloos being Pomaceous. 



The Eleeagnus is called Sinjit : it produces a small red fruit, used 

 in medicine as an astringent, it ripens in August, and sells at eight 

 or nine seers the rupee ; it is exported in small quantities ; but the 

 plant is not much esteemed. 



The Munjit is an article of much consequence ; it is exported 

 chiefly to China and Bombay, some goes to Persia; the roots are 

 occasionally dug up after two years, but the better practise is to 

 allow them five to seven : the price is six Hindostanee maunds for a 

 rupee. The herb is used for camel fodder. The Affghan name is 

 Dlwurrung. 



The common Artemisia of this place is called Turk; the camels 

 are not so fond of it, as they were of the Sinab and Quettah sort ; 

 perhaps this is due to their preferring Joussa, which is found in 

 abundance. 



The carrot is called Zurduk; it is dug in the cold months, and 

 sown in July; three seers are sold for a pice: both men and cattle 

 use it. 



Turbooj, (watermelon,) ripens in June; it is not watered after spring- 

 ing up ; four seers are sold for a pice. But I have not seen much of 

 this fruit. 



The wheat is watered according to the quality of the soil, the 

 better the soil the less water is required, and this varies from four to 

 eight repetitions of water. J how requires two waterings less. Wheat 

 is considered dear if less than one maund is sold for the rupee. One 



