'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎165] (220/905)

CHAP. VIII.]
DISTRICT OF HERAT.
165
during his advance into Bactria. 1 Some of tlie narrow val- Antiquities,
leys are cultivated, but the chief wealth of the Huzarah con
sists 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, suffi
ciently numerous to accommodate with apartments the inha
bitants 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 dis- The valley
trict 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 andcityof
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 assafoetida. Although
fruits and grain are but partially cultivated, yet they are so x
abundant about Herat, that the Persian camp was well sup
plied 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 Aria,
of the country of the Paropamisadse; the former, which
was also called Ery,-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.
2 Elphinstone's Kabul, p. 487.
8 Captain Christie, in Pottinger's Travels, p. 416.
4 ibid., p. 415. s 0 s ilb y' s Asia ' p - 319 -