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CHAP. VIII.] SURFACE AND CLIMATE OF AFGHANISTAN. 173
moreover, Kabul is on the high, road between India and 'Irak.
But much of the country northward of the mountains, espe
cially the adjoining province westward, appears at one time to
have belonged to the Paropamisadse.
Margiana, the Elsabat of Cluverius, extends northward of Margiana.
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 expres
sively called Jezelbas 1 (the Green Head), from the verdure pro
duced 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 Seieuda.
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 dis
tance 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 Afghanistan are an assemblage of Features of
mountain chains and high rugged hills, in some places sepa- Af s hamstai1 -
rated 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 Bolan 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 Afghanistan
1 Ogilby's Asia, p. 194. 2 Strabo, lib. XT., p. 515.
8 Ibid., lib. XL, p. 516. 4 70 stadia.—Pliny, lib. V., c. 16.
5 Recueil de Geographic, Tome V., p. 466. Paris.
6 Ouseley's Translation, p. 233. Edit. 1800.