stands on it to guide the cattle, and increase the effect of the harrow by his weight. After this operation, some farmers give another water, but most leave it till the grain has risen to a considerable height, when they turn in cattle to eat it down; after which they water it again, and some give another water in winter; but in most parts of the country it is either covered by the snow throughout that season, or sufficiently moistened by the winter rain. The rains in spring are material to the wheat, but do not supersede the necessity of irrigation, one water at least must be given in the course of the season; but some water three times a month till the corn begins to ripen. It may be remarked in passing, that the spring-sown harvest requires much more water than that of which I am now speaking. The crop is reaped with the sickle, which indeed is the only instrument used for cutting down grass and all kinds of grain. The use of the flail is unknown for separating the grain from the straw; it is either trodden out by oxen, or forced out by a frame of wood filled with branches, on which a man sits, and is dragged over the straw by cattle. This seems to be the way im Persia also. It is winnowed by being thrown up to the wind with a large shovel. When cleared the grain is generally kept in large round hampers (like gabions), which are supported by wooden feet, and plastered with mud. It is also kept in unburnt earthen vessels, and in coarse hair-cloth bags. The Dooraunees often heap it up in barns, and in towns it is stored in large granaries. It is ground into flour by wind-mills, water-mills, or hand-mills. The wind-mill is not generally used, except in the west, where a steady wind can be relied on for four months in the year at least. The ruins of old wind-mills are to be seen as far east as Caubul and Ghuznee, but they are certainly not common in those countries at present: one ruined wind-mill is in existence even on the borders of Damaun, where the use of such a machine is now never thought of. Nothing can be imagined more different from our wind-mill than the sort in question: I have examined a model of one, but have not a sufficiently distinct recollection of it to enable me to describe it fully. The sails are enclosed within the building, in which there is an opening to admit the wind. They are square or oblong in shape, are placed upright, and move on a vertical axis: when in motion, each in succession is brought to the opening so as to receive the wind, which presses against each, as the water does against the float-board of a water-mill. The mill-stone is immediately below the sails, which move it without the intervention of machinery. The water-mills are also exceedingly different from any that I have seen, though I understand a similar kind is used in the Shetland isles. The wheel is horizontal, and the feathers are disposed obliquely, so as to resemble the wheel of a smoke-jack. It is within the mill, and immediately below the mill-stone, which turns on the same spindle with the wheel. The water is introduced into the mill by a trough, so as to fall on the wheel. The wheel itself is not, if I recollect right, more than four feet in diameter. This sort of mill is used all over Afghaunistaun, Persia, and Toorkistaun. It is also used in the north of ndia under the Sireenuggur hills, but, in general, VOL. I. 2 D no water-mills are known in India, where all grain is ground with the hand. The hand-mill is used by the part of the population that live in tents, and also in the rudest parts of the country : it is simply two flat round stones, the uppermost of which rests on a pivot fixed in the lowest, and is turned by a wooden peg, which is fastened in it for a handle. Except where hand-mills are used, a miller has a distinct trade, and is paid by a share of the corn which he grinds. I can say little about the succession of crops adopted by the husbandmen of Afghaunistaun. It seems to be only in the very poorest parts of the country that land is allowed to lie fallow for a year. It is more frequent to cultivate the autumn harvest one year, and the spring one the next; but in some places, where manure is in plenty, both are raised in one year. The manure used is composed of dung and straw collected in dunghills, of ashes, the mud of old walls, and various other substances. The dung of camels is carefully avoided, from a notion that it impregnates the land with saltpetre. Lime and marl seem both to be unknown. Horses are employed to draw the plough in Toorkistaun and in the Eimauk country, but in no other part of Afghaunistaun, nor in Persia nor in India. That task is generally performed by oxen, but in Shoraubuk and in Seestaun, it is done by camels, (which animal is also used in the kingdom of Cokaun or Ferghauna, and in the Indian Desart,) and asses are employed in some parts of Afghaunistaun. Grain, manure, &c. are generally carried about the farm by asses or bullocks, and sometimes by camels : carts, as has been observed, do not exist in the country. 403 CHAPTER XII. TAUJIKS, HINDKEES, AND OTHER INHABITANTS IT has been observed, that there is scarcely any part of Afghaunistaun in which the whole population is Afghaun, and that the mixture is composed of Taujiks in the west, and of Hindkees in the east. I now proceed to give an account of those classes, and of the other tribes and nations that are to be met with in Afghaunistaun.* The situation in which we find the Taujiks is calculated to excite a degree of curiosity, which my information is ill calculated to remove. The Taujiks are not united into one body, like most other nations, or confined to one country, but are scattered unconnected through a great part of Asia. They are mixed with the Uzbeks through the greater part of their dominions, in the same manner as with the Afghauns. The fixed inhabitants of Persia are called Taujiks, * Bauber enumerates the tribes which inhabited Caubul in his day. In the plain were Toorks, Eimauks, and Arabs. In the towns, and in some villages, Taujiks, Pushauees, and Puraunchehs. In the hills were Hazaurehs, Togderrees, Afghauns, and Caufers. The languages spoken among these tribes, were Arabic, Persian, Toorkee, Moghoollee, Hindee, Afghaunee, Pushauee, Puraunchee, Gubree, Burrukee, and Deggaunee. in contradistinction to their Tartar invaders, and also to the moving tribes, who seem to have been originally Persian. They are found even in Chinese Toorkistaun; and they possess independent governments in the mountainous countries of Kurrategeen, Durwauz, Wakheeha, and Budukhshaun. Except in those strong countries, and in a few sequestered places which will be mentioned hereafter, they are never found formed into separate societies, but mixed with the ruling nation of the country they inhabit, and generally wearing the dress and practising most of the customs of that nation. In Persia, the plains of Afghaunistaun, and the Uzbek country, they appear to have been settled before the arrival of the nations which are now predominant in those countries. The name of Taujik is rather loosely used. It is sometimes applied to all persons mixed with the Toorks or Afghauns who are not sprung from those stocks, or rather whose race is unknown; but it is with more propriety confined to those inhabitants of countries where Toorkee and Pushtoo are spoken, whose vernacular language is Persian. The names of Taujik and Parseewaun are indeed used indiscriminately both in Afghaunistaun and Toorkistaun.* Various accounts of the word Taujik have been given; but the best seems to be that which derives it from Tausik or Taujik, the name applied to the Arabs in all Pehlevee writings. This agrees with the *The Afghauns also call the Taujiks Deggauns or Dehkauns, and the Uzbeks call them Serds or Serts; but these names are considered as reproachful. Our travellers call those in Toorkistaun, Bokhars. |