There are four distinct lines by which Rus sia can move on to Herat: First from the Cas pian by the Mashat route; second from Chi kishliar by the Bendessan Pass and across the desert to Merve; third from Tashkend via Gherjuit : fourth by Balkh direct to Herat. The distance from Peshawar to Kabul is 191 miles in 20 stages varying from 8 to 12 miles. From Kandahar to Herat is 365 miles. From Herat to Balkh 370 miles. From Kabul to the Oxus by Balkh 424 miles.
As might be expected in a country having the physical conditions of Afghanistan there is the greatest variety of climate. In some parts, especially north of Kabul, the winter is rigorous. In the city of Kabul the snow lies for two or three months and the people seldom leave their houses. At Jalabad the climate is similar to that of the plains of India and the heat is intense in sum mer. Throughout Kandahar the summer heat rises to a very high temperature, but at Herat, although much lower than Kandahar, the cli mate in summer is more temperate and in winter much milder. The salubrity and charm of some localities is much praised by the people, although they have by no means that immunity from disease which the dry climate of the country and the fine physical condition of the people might lead us to suppose. Fevers are common, stone is frequent, and eye diseases prevail.
Natural Afghanistan is sup posed to be rich in minerals. Small quantities of gold have been taken from the streams flow ing from the Hindu Kush. There were at one time famous silver mines in Badakshan. The ruby mines which lie some feet above the Oxus River have a world-wide reputation, but the deposits have not been worked regularly. There are rich lead mines in Herat. Coal has been found near Ghazni. Silicate of zinc comes from the Kaki country. Sulphur abounds in Herat on the confines of Seistan. Sal-am moniac is found in Seistan. Gypsum exists in large quantities in Kandahar. Nitre abounds in almost every part of the land.
Vegetable On the Alpine ranges of the country there is a magnificent growth of forest trees — cedars, pines, hazels and walnuts; and growing under the shade of these trees are rich varieties of honeysuckle, currant, gooseberry, hawthorn and rhododen dron. The wild rose is found in all parts of the land and is an important export. Lemons and wild vines are in abundance. In cultivated dis
tricts the chief trees are mulberry, willow, pop lar and ash. An important product is gum resin which grows abundantly in Kandahar and Herat. In the highlands of Kabul edible rhu barb is a local luxury. Walnuts grow wild and are exported with the pistachio nut to both India and Russia.
In most parts of Afghanistan there are, as in India, two harvests. One of them is called the *Baharak° or spring crop, which is sown at the end of autumn and reaped in summer. It consists of wheat, barley and a variety of lentils. The other harvest is called uPaizah,k) and is sown at the end of the spring and reaped in autumn. It consists of millet, maize, beets, turnips, etc. The staple food of the country is wheat, but rice is largely imported from Peshawar. The growth of melons, especially of the usarda melon,* is an important cultivation as they are exported to Peshawar. Sugarcane is grown in the plains,. and cotton in the warmer sections of the country. Tobacco is very widely cultivated and exported to Rus sia and India. The fruit crops are abundant. Every kind of European fruit — pears, apples, peaches, oranges and grapes are produced in many varieties and of excellent quality. Mul berries are reduced to flour, and when prepared in cakes form the staple food of many districts. Grapes are cultivated to a very high degree. They are placed in boxes protected with cotton wool and exported in large quantities to India. The vineyards and peach gardens at Kandahar and Herat are very productive.
Industrial Products and Silk is produced in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, and although it is largely consumed in domestic manufactures the best qualities are exported to Bombay. Excellent carpets, soft, brilliant and durable in color, are made in Herat and are very often sold in America as °Persian carpets.* They are woven by the Nomads of the desert, and by the girls and women while the men are tending their flocks on the hills. Of recent years the Amir has given great atten tion to the manufacture of all kinds of articles, and English artisans have been brought into the country for promoting various industries. The chief exports of the country are wool, horses, silk, fruit, madder and asafoetida. Under the fostering care of the Amir the ex ports of Afghanistan are very rapidly on the increase.