CABUL — GARDEN'S. 



385 



state ! ! Nothing can exceed the difference between the two, both in 

 shape and tomentum. 



12/A. — Halted since 10th at Baber's tomb, situated at some fine 

 gardens, or rather groves very near the summer-house of Shah 

 Zumaun, and to the right of the entrance into the town. It is a 

 delightful residence, and for Affghanistan, a paradise. There are 

 some tanks of small size, around one of which our tents are pitched 

 under the shade of sycamores and fine poplars ; the tank is fed by a 

 fall from a cut above its level, and which skirts the range of hills at 

 an elevation of fifty feet in some places from its base. The tomb of 

 Baber is poor, as also is the so-called splendid mosque of Shah Jehan, 

 a small ordinary open edifice of coarse white marble. In the gardens, 

 one finds beautiful sycamores, and several fine poplars both round the 

 tank and in avenues. Below them a Bauhinioid fruit was found, 

 together with abundance of hawthorn, roses, and jasmines. 



The view from this spot is beautiful, as fine as most woodland 

 scenery. The view from Shah Zumaun's summer-house is also ex- 

 tensive, and not to be exceeded as a cultivated woodland scene ; it is 

 variegated with green swardy commons, presenting all sorts of culti- 

 vation ; with water, villages, abundance of trees, willows, poplars, 

 hedgerows, and by the grand but barren mountains surrounding 

 it, the Pughman hills, which must be at least 13,000 feet above the 

 sea. 



The entrance to Cabul on this side, is through a gorge flanked by 

 hills; these to the left are low, those to the right reaching 1,000 feet, 

 through which the Maidan river, here called the Cabul river, runs ; 

 it may be 100 yards wide. The river is subdivided, and crossed by a 

 ruined stone bridge of many arches, one parapet of which (the outer) 

 is continuous with the wall before mentioned. The gorge is occupied 

 by cultivation of several kinds, having the city wall at its termination, 

 running irregularly across the valley. A village is situated between the 

 entrance of the gorge and the wall. There are no defences to the city 

 worth mentioning : one enters immediately into narrow dirty streets, 

 with here and there a fever-breeding stagnant sewer ; while the streets 

 are narrow, the bazars are good, of good breadth, well covered in by 

 flat ornamented roofs : the shops are clean, and well laid out. 

 Shoemakers and leather- workers, and fruiterers, are the most com- 

 mon : there are armourers, blacksmiths, drapers and bakers. Hindoos 

 and Mussulmen intermixed, form the population. There is great bustle 

 and activity, everywhere profusion of fine fruit, especially melons, 

 grapes, and apples are presented. 



3 d 



