PAROPAMISTJS or HINDOO KOOSH, 
39 
BY JOHN BEDDOE, M.D., F.R.S. 
HIS subject was treated under the following heads : — 
The geography of the countries, their history as regards 
ethnology, and the various races inhabiting them. As to the geo- 
graphical characteristics of this region, it was highland as compared 
with most of the surrounding countries, consisting mainly of ranges 
of hills enclosing narrow valleys and small elevated plains, and 
radiating from two principal ranges, the Hindoo Koosh, running 
nearly east and west, and the Suliman mountains, nearly north and 
south. The former is not really a prolongation westward of the 
Himalayah, which does not cross the Indus, and is represented, 
if at all, by the Safed Koh (White Mount) range, south of the 
Kabul river : this range terminates to the west in knots of moun- 
tains, among which lies the Shutargardan Pass, of which we have 
heard so much of late. As we proceed southwards and westwards 
the elevation of the country decreases, and we find considerable 
diversity of climate. The north-western portion is of a more open 
character, the central and eastern parts are well wooded and watered, 
while in the west, pasture is the chief feature and wood is scarce. 
The streams flowing southwards never reach the sea, but converge 
towards the small lake of Seistan, from which there is no outlet. 
