1831.] 
Overland Journey to India . 
391 
The country between Meshid and Herat may be shortly described. South of 
Meshid, there is a break in the Paropamisan mountains, which now bend down 
to the east of Herat, and then turn up to meet the Hindu Kush. _ . 
A small branch runs down from the main range to the south of Herat, which is 
useful in describing the political divisions of the country.— To the west of the cen- 
tre of this branch isTurbut-e-Hyderah, a town which, once much larger, now num- 
bers about 1000 houses. It is the seat of Mahomed Khftn, of the Kara-i, or black 
tribe a name well suited to them. Moliamed Khkn should be subject to the Shah 
of Persia, but this has not been a point much attended to by the chiefs of Khorasan, 
and Mahomed Khan has ever been not only regardless of the Shah’s authority, 
but at war with all his neighbours. His extenuators say, that he was prompted 
to this lawless mode of life when his father Issak Khkn was murdered by Prince 
Wali Mahomed Mirza at Meshid, but as he has turned his spite upon unoffending per- 
sons to his own great profit, this may be doubted : the Persians say that lie has sold 
50000 persons to the Turkmans during his rule, and travellers, as may be imagine , 
now pass seldom through his country. Those whom necessity takes this road, go 
“ Tewakul beKhoda,” (trusting in Providence.) As Mahomed Khan is alwaysat vari- 
ance with somebody, his country is often invaded, and liis people therefore raise on y 
grain sufficient for their own consumption, though theii country is a ^ ne ® 
88 miles S. E. of Turbut is Khaff, where is seated the chief of the Teimuri ti me, 
and west between these two places is the province of Thrshish, which is a perfect 
garden. 
To the east of the small branch described, between it and the main range are 
found the Suni Hazarehs ; a turbulent tribe, who lire in tents, and who *ave 
rendered allegiance to the Persians and Afghans, as these powers were severally 
“ThlTreclllcd SAM Hazhrehs in contradistinction to the SAeah Hazhrehs, who 
hold the mountainous country between Herat and Cabul. icy are vio en 
professors of the Suni religion, and their features tell that they are descendao s of 
the Tartars : these, or their thievish sympathies, have connecter em C * ^ . 
the Thrkmhns, to whom they sell those whom they have the fortune to lay ha 
upon. In order to have such convenient friends at hand, t ey a ow “ 
of their country, and consequently it is depopulated to the very ne.ghbourhood 
of Herat. 
, , , i Mptjbid and rode with the rear 
On the 13th September, we took glad leave of Mes , 
guard out 20 miles to “ Tungu! Shor,” a brackish spring of water, near 
andl00 ° S(mi to °Kamrkn’^ pro- 
500 Kurds under a son of the chiefs, sent to ^ ^ Ii in- 
jected attempt upon Kandahar The piosp were g i 20 camels bearing cajk- 
curity, had caused a large Kafila to assem i . mules and ykbhs (ponies) 
vas, many others laden with food for man auc ,ea " Eyery member of 
similarly laden, and a crowd of horse, don ey, am^ raligsim0 for his protec- 
the Kafila was called upon to pay a heavy a w hips. On the march 
tion, and those who demurred, were appea ec o country was plain,) the 
the Kafila kept one line, (about 12 camels abreast wbe far off j n all directi. 
Afghan troops marched in dastehs (regiments) °^ one *' el i ed f or the first part of the 
ons parties of Hazkreh horse kept a look out. ard for the Shah of 
way by an unfrequented road, professedly out o a Mpshid the Afghans had 
Persia's province of Khorasan s but as in marchmg up to Mesh.d, 
