tlie borders of Kabul, in 68° 15' east longitude. The provinces
of Siyah-band (Shah-band) and Farrah form the
southern portion of the territory. The former district contains
a pastoral population, who possess immense flocks of
sheep, and a proportion of small active horses, which are
reared for sale. In the latter district there is a greater number
of fixed inhabitants than in the former, and these are a
fine hardy race, who live chiefly in the valley of Farr-ar-rud,
which terminates at the borders of Siwistan. Siyah-band is
without any town of importance; but its ehief places are
Bihboud Khan, Ghoura Khan, and Kouroum Khan,-in which
the three principal Eimakh chiefs reside.
The Farr-ar-rud river rises near the western side of the
province, and takes a S.W. course along the valley, to the
romantic town of Anar-darrah,1 from whence it proceeds
onwards to Lake Zerrah, and passes near Farrah. This town
is considered to be the capital of the Nur-zayi country, and
it is described as being a large walled town, situated in a
fertile valley, midway on the high road from Kandahar to
Herat.2 Around the different villages throughout the rest of
the distance, this extensive valley appears to be well cultivated,
and enjoys a fine climate; as is the case likewise in the
adjoining valley of the Kash-rud. The river Kash rises close
to the head of the Farr-ar-rud, and takes a southerly direction
from thence till it enters the Helmand. The two districts
of Bamiyan and Ghoraut, or the Huzarah country, form
the eastern, and, owing to its position towards the foot of the
Hindu Kush, the least productive part of the territory of
Herat. Dek Zangee is the chief town ; but the people live
almost entirely in villages, which, like those of the Armenians,
are partly excavated in the sides of the hills, and have
the protection of a strong loop-holed tower. In case of an
alarm being sounded, this work is speedily occupied by a
number of warlike people, sufficient for that sort of defence
which proved so troublesome to the Macedonian conqueror
1 Captain Christie, in Pottinger’s Travels, p. 411.
8 Ibid.
during his advance into Bactria.1 Some of the narrow valleys
are cultivated, but the chief wealth of the Huzarah consists
in numerous flocks of sheep, oxen, and horses. In an
isolated mountain at the eastern extremity near Bamiyan,
there are some very remarkable ancient excavations, sufficiently
numerous to accommodate with apartments the inhabitants
of a considerable city. There are likewise other
interesting specimens of antiquity in the same neighbourhood,
amongst which may be particularly noticed two colossal
statues, cut in the side of the mountain, and supposed to
have been connected with the worship of Buddh.2
At the north-western extremity of the country is the district
which gives its name to the whole territory. This is
the valley of Herat, which extends for a distance of 30 miles
in length by 15 in width: it is surrounded by mountains, and
watered by the river Tejund, which runs westward, or nearly
parallel to the Paropamisus. The city stands about the
centre of this highly-cultivated valley, and is encircled by
villages having around them fields and gardens, the fertility
of which cannot be exceeded.3
Being the grand centre and emporium between India and
Persia, Herat, owing to its transit commerce, has, by way of
distinction, been called the Port.4 The staple products of
the province are silks, saffron, and assafcetida. Although
fruits and grain are but partially cultivated, yet they are so
abundant about Herat, that the Persian camp was well supplied
during a siege which continued from the 22d of Nov.,
1837, till the 9th of Sept., 1838; and it is said that bread
was at that time as cheap there as in the market of Tabriz.
The district of Herat represents ancient Aria, with a part
of the country of the Paropamisadse; the former, which
was also called Fry, or Hery,'the Sorner of Mercator,5 being
eastward of Parthia. It had the Paropamisadse on the east,
1 Quidquid malorum tolerari potest pertulit, inopiam, frigus, lassitudinem,
desperationem.—Quintus Curtius, lib. VII. c. iii.
8 Elphinstone’s Kibul, p. 487.
8 Captain Christie, in Pottinger’s Travels, p. 416.
4 Ibid., p. 415. 5 Ogilby’s Asia, p. 319.