branches. They unite again to the west of that country, and the whole is lost in the neighbourhood of Choghye in the Gurmseer. The length of the Lora is near two hundred miles, and it is of a considerable breadth, but never too deep to be forded for more than a week at a time. Its banks are so high in Pisheen, as to prevent its being employed for irrigation; but in Shoraubuk they are lower, and it supplies almost all the water used in agriculture.*

The river, which was anciently called the Ochus, can scarcely be reckoned to belong to Afghaunistaun. It rises at Oba, in the Paropamisan mountains, and runs past Heraut. It continues to run westerly for a short distance, through Afghaun and Persian Khorassaun; after which it runs north, and enters the desart on the left of the Oxus. It is said formerly to have reached the Caspian Sea, but I believe it is now lost in the desart. It is crossed between Merve and Meshhed, but I have no particular information regarding its lower course. It was anciently called Herirood; but is now known to the Persians and Afghauns by the name of Poollee Maulaun, and to the Uzbeks by that of Tejend.†

[* It appears by Mr. Conolly's travels that there are two Loras, one as above described, and another which rises at Sireeaub south of Quetta, and joins the former after passing Shadeezye. Mr. Conolly also heard that the river thus formed went on through Shoraubuk, and was received by a lake about one hundred and twenty miles west of Pisheen. (Vol. ii. p. 128.)-1838.]

[+ The course of the river of Heraut towards the Oxus was adopted by D'Anville, but controverted by Rennell, who conceived that it ran south into the lake of Seestaun. The question is of some importance, as determining the line of the elevated land which separates the waters flowing to the Oxus from those flowing into Persia, and

he

Though there are many streams in Afghaunistaun as large in themselves as some of those I have mentioned, I need take no notice of them, unless their importance is raised by their contributing to a great river, or by some other circumstance of that kind. which connects Paropamisus with Taurus and other western mountains. Mohun Lall's observations throw much light on this subject; and, as his book is scarce in England, I insert the substance of them, premising that he lived seven months at Heraut, and must often have seen the river. With this knowledge, he expressly says, that the River of Heraut falls into the Oxus (page 193); but he also gives particulars of more value than this general assertion. In page 204, says Pozeh Kafter Kháneh stands " on the left bank of the river, towards the south-west." He mentions, (page 234,) that the river passes to the south of Heraut, and gives the following account of it on his return to Meshhed. He first crossed it before reaching Ghoriaum (page 191): he crossed it again by a bridge to a Rabaut at Teerpool, which was on the right bank. Next day he attempted to ford, but not succeeding, he returned to the bridge, repassed it, and went along the left bank to Kaufir Kella; from whence he went by Jaum and Mahmoodabad to Mushhed, without meeting with any stream, or any pass on his way. Again, in going from Heraut to Furrah, after passing Shahbed, twenty-four miles from Heraut, he came to a very high pass, after which he reached the streams of Rodguz and Adruscund, flowing towards the Helmund [that is, south] (page 254). This high ridge, therefore, separates the waters; and, as he describes it as composed of mountains "resembling those of Pind Dadan Khán, celebrated for the salt mines in the Punjáb,” there can be little doubt that they are the same with the steep range, which he describes (page 249) as passing between Khauf and Jaum, and as containing a fruitful mine of salt. These are probably the same mountains which he crossed with much difficulty between Furkhabad and Toorbuti Hyderee (page 200); and the same which Captain Christie saw still farther west between Chilsar and Oonshy, on his right, running off to the north-west. (Pottinger's Travels, page 419.) It is probable that they go near Neeshapore, and divide the streams which run to Meshhed from those which form the Poolee Abreshm river.-1838.]

It therefore only remains to mention the streams, which form the only lake of which I have heard in Afghaunistaun. The Pultsee, the Jilga, and another rivulet, issue from the mountains of Solimaun, north of the range of Sirufza, and flow west into the lake, which is situated to the south-south-west of Ghuznee, and about two marches south-west of Mybolauk.

It was on one of these streams that Sultaun Mahmood built his famous embankment, which supplied the city of Ghuznee, and its neighbourhood, with water; and which was destroyed by one of the early Afghaun kings, before he had succeeded in overturning the empire of Ghuznee. Besides other little streams, the lake receives a rivulet from the south, which rises near Gwaushta; and the whole united make a piece of water, which in the dry weather is only three or four miles in diameter, and about twice as much after floods. The water of the lake is salt, as is that of some of the rivulets which join it. It is called Aubistaudeh, which, in Persian, means standing water.

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CHAPTER IV.

NATURAL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF AFGHAUNISTAUN.

THE plain of the Indus from the sea to Sungur, is included in Sind. Of this division, the part which extends from the sea to Shikarpoor, is inhabited by Sindees, under a native prince, but tributary to Caubul. This is now generally called Sinde by the English; but may, with more propriety, be termed Lower Sind. From Shikarpoor, inclusive, to Sungur, may be called Upper Sind. The part of it which lies to the west of the Indus, is chiefly inhabited by Beloches; and, with the exception of a small tract north of Shikarpoor, is directly under the government of Caubul. Above Sungur, as far as the eastern branches of the Solimaun range, is Damaun. The hills south of the Salt Range, and the plains and valleys which they enclose, are also generally included in Damaun. The plain, immediately on the right bank of the Indus, and north of Sungur, is inhabited by Beloches, and is sometimes distinguished from Damaun, and called by the Beloche or Hindostaunee name of Muckelwaud. Damaun is then only applied to the skirts of the hills, which indeed is the original meaning of the word. In this sense, the southern part of Damaun is inhabited by the Stooreeaunees, after whom, to the north, are the Bauboors, Meeaunkhails,

Gundehpoors, Dowlutkhails, and Murwuts; all Afghaun tribes. To the north of the latter, and along the utmost boundary of Damaun, in this extended sense, are the Afghaun tribes, who inhabit Khost, Dour, and Bunnoo, and that of Esaukhail. In the same extent of the range of Solimaun, live the Zmurrees, Sheeraunees, Wuzeerees, and Jadrauns.

The Jaujees and Torees inhabit a deep valley, which appears to be cut by the Koorrum in the Solimauny range: between the Salt Range and that of 34° are hills and valleys, inhabited by the tribes of Bungush and Khuttuk. The latter, in some places, extends to the south of the Salt Range, and even crosses the Indus about Muckud. To the north of the range of 34°, is the rich and extensive plain of Peshawer, watered by the river of Caubul, and bounded on the east by the Indus. The Khuttuks extend over the south-eastern part of this plain. The northern part belongs to the Eusofzyes, who inhabit also the country among the hills, which I have mentioned, under the names of Boonere, Swaut, and Punjcora. Some of the Eusofzye tribes extend to the east of the Indus. The rest of the plain of Peshawer belongs to certain tribes, often comprehended in the name of the tribes of Peshawer.

The plain of Peshawer is bounded on the west by the subordinate range, which crosses from Hindoo Coosh to Suffaid Coh. The southern part of these hills, which is naked and barren, belongs to the upper Momunds. The northern part is covered with pines, and belongs to the Otmaunkhail. To the west of this range of hills, is the spacious valley of Bajour, which runs into that of Punjcora, and which is sur