KABUL, Ica-boor, or CABOOL, Afghanis tan, capital of the country and of the province of Kabul, situated at the western extremity of a spacious plain, in an angle formed by the ap proach of two ranges of hills, and (with the exception of a suburb) on the right bank of the Kabul River, which is spanned, in or near the city, by several bridges. It is a place of great strategic strength, and stands at a height of about 6,900 feet above sea-level. It has a de lightful summer climate, but the winter is severe. Since the eighties of last century great improvements have been effected in the city, and under the enlightened rule of Abd-ur-Rah man (died 1901) important industries were in troduced and electrical powers developed under European tutelage. Good highways have also been constructed, and a local railway has been The mosques are spacious and com modious, and the town is an important centre of trade with India and central Asia. Kabul has had a stirring and eventful his tory. It fell to the arms of Tamerlane in 1394.
It was captured by Nadir Shah in 1739, whose son, Ahmed Khan, founded the Durani dynasty. The city was taken by the British in 1839; was the scene of the capitulation of British forces in 1842, who, guaranteed safe conduct to the frontier, were brutally massacred, only one man out of a total of 16,000 soldiers and camp followers reaching safety. In retaliation the city was again occupied by British troops, and on evacuation partially destroyed by them. It afterward became the centre of a dynastic struggle between rival claimants to the throne of Afghanistan. In 1879 the British resident and his staff were massacred, and this was followed by General Robert's march on the city, the defeat of the Afghan forces at the battle of Charasaib, and occupation of the city for a twelve month. Pop. 180,000.