and the main valley terminates in the remarkably rich plain
of Pesháwur.1
This district, and nearly the whole of that of Bámiyán,
were included in the Paropamisus of the ancients, which, in
its restricted limits, had Aria to the west, Arachosia to the
south, the river Indus and the territory of Cathay (the ancient
seat of the Seres) to the east; and, finally, the extremity
of the Caucasian range, with the Sacse, on the north. The
hills are high and barren,2 and the valleys indifferently fruitful,
being overshadowed by the mountains,3 which were so
difficult of access, that in the time of Alexander, this country
was scarcely known even to those who lived on its borders;
and the inhabitants were in consequence rude and savage.4
This tract was peopled by the Bolitse, or Cabolitse, and Aris-
topholi, on the west; 6 likewise the Ambustse, Parrette, and
Parsii, all of whom were known by the general name Paro-
pamisadse, from that of the adjoining portion of the mountains.
Including the Huzarah country to the east, and that of
the Eimaks to the west, Paropamisus extended 350 miles,
with a breadth from north to south of about 200 miles; and
contained the city of Alexandria ad Caucasum, which we are
told6 was built by Alexander previously to traversing the
Caucasus. This very remarkable place would seem to be
represented by the Beghram of the present day.7 Near it
was the city of Nikaea,8 which was passed on the return of
the conqueror from Bactria.9 In its vicinity was also the
Kapissa of Ptolemy, now Perwan Durrah;10 and finally the
metropolitan city Karura, or Kabura of Ptolemy, the Ortos-
pana of Strabo, whose situation and distances from some of
the principal places agree with those of the present capital:11
1 Elphinstone’s Kábul, p. 55.
3 Káoul in Syriac signifies unfruitful.—Ogilby’s Asia, p. 197.
3 Quintus Curtius, book VII., c iv.
4 Ibid., and Heylyn’s ‘ Little Description of the Great World,’ p. 633.
3 Ptolemy, lib. VI. c. xviii, « Quintus Curtius, lib. VII. c. iii.
r. Mr. Masson, Journal of the Asiatic Society, Vol. V-, p. 6 ; and Major
Rawlinson’s Letter to the Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, from
Kandahár, May 1st, 1841. 8 Major Rawlinsori.
9 Nysa.—Quintus Curtius, lib. VIII. c. x. 10 Major Rawlinson’s Letter.
Strabo, lib. XI., p. 514.—From Prophthasia (Perwarrun) to Arachosia
(Deh-Zangee) 4120 stadia, and from the latter to Ortospana (Kábul) 2000 stadiamoreover,
Kábul is on the high road between India and ’Irak.
But much of the country northward of the mountains, especially
the adjoining province westward, appears at one time to
have belonged to the Paropamisadse.
Margiana, the Elsabat of Cluverius, extends northward of
Aria, or from the Paropamisan range to the river Oxus;
having Bactria on the east, and parts of Hyrcania, as well as
Parthia, on the west, the river Oxus on the north, and Aria
and Paropamisus on the south. By the Tartars it is expressively
called Jezelbas1 (the Green Head), from the verdure produced
by the numerous streams which form the Margos, or
Moorgaub. It is one of the finest provinces of northern
Asia,2 and is singularly adapted for the cultivation of the
vine.* Its principal city was Antiochia,3 which was at first
called Alexandria, and afterwards Seleucia, and which covered
a space of upwards of eight miles in- circumference.4 This
place is supposed to be represented by the Mero of Ibn Haukal,
and the Merw-el-Rud of Edrisi,—an ancient and extensive city,
constructed in a sandy but fertile district, at a bow-shot distance
from the river Mourghab.5 Margiana forms the southern
portion of Zagaty, or the Usbeck country, and it is also part
of the much-vaunted Mawer-al-Nacher of Ibn Haukal.6
The leading features of Afghánistán are an assemblage of
mountain chains and high rugged hills, in some places separated
by plains, but more generally divided by lengthened
winding valleys, which, for the most part, are only to be
approached through rocky defiles, such as the formidable
passes of Bolán and Khybur. The country is partially clothed
with wood, and enriched with cultivation; but it is almost
destitute of roads, and has but few towns. The latter are
placed at great distances from one another, and between them
are many populous and fertile valleys. -
•Such a country is naturally subject to much variety of
temperature; but on the whole, the climate of Afghánistán
1 Ogilby’s Asia, p. 194. 2 Strabo, lib. XL, p. 515.
3 Ibid., lib. XI., p. 516. . 4 10 stadia.—Pliny, lib. V., c. 16.
3 Recueil de Géographie, Tome V., p. 466. Paris.
3 Ouseley’s Translation, p. 233. Edit. 1800.