'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.' [‎174] (229/905)

174
AFGHAN CHARACTER.
[CHAP. VIII.
may be considered as dry, and little subject to rain, clouds, or
temTrature T ^ e avera g e temperature is higher than that of Eng
land, and lower than that of India. There is, however, a
greater difference between the extremes of temperature in
summer and winter, as well as between those of day and
night, than in either of those countries ; but the climate is
favourable to the human constitution, and many parts of the
country are remarkable for their salubrity. 1
producUons. In . a re S] on where the productions of Europe are seen to
flourish amidst a profusion of those of the torrid zone, the
vegetable kingdom is particularly rich ; although the country
at large is better suited for pasturage than for agriculture.
In addition to the ordinary European trees, the hills are
frequently clothed with a sOrt of gigantic cypress, and some
trees not yet described, such as the suachob, purra, bulkhuk,
and zurung. Many bushes which bear eatable berries are
found, such as the barberry, kurounda, 2 the umlook, and the
goorgoseh. The arghawaun, or gigantic anemone, the rose,
jessamine, poppy, narcissus, hyacinth, and tuberose, grow in
the gardens, and sometimes in a wild state. 3
SeMghint No p ? 0ple are more dili g ent husbandmen than the Afghans,
and their efforts are not confined to the manual labours of the
field, nor the ingenious excavation of a kanat; for, in addition
to the portable hand-mill of the tent population, much me
chanical ingenuity is displayed in the construction of water-
mills, Persian wheels, and, especially, horizontal windmills. 4
The Afghans are remarkable for as many opposite qualities
as the country which they inhabit, and for a peculiar mixture
of good and evil in their characters. Without having lost
the ruggedness of barbarous nations, they are guilty of the
vices common to all Asiatics; whilst their simple manners
are equally removed from the suppleness of a citizen, and the
awkward rusticity of a clown : 5 yet, although far behind
Europeans in veracity, one may generally depend on their
honesty and fidelity. 6
1 Elphinstone's Kdbul, p. 140.
1 Elphinstone's Kdbul, p, 146.
5 Ibid., p. 149.
2 Cacissa Carounda.
4 Ibid., pp. 250, 305, 307.
6 Ibid., pp. 249 and 250.