HERAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 114, 18 April 1885, Page 3

HERAT.

Herat, so famous of late years from the discussions respecting its strategical importance, was one of the most interesting points visited by the Afghan boundary Commission, and the first detailed description of the city which has appeared for some years is given by the Times of India correspondent. Mist concealed Herat as the Mission approached throngh the suburbs, where crowds of huge "white dogs rushed at the Europeans and had to be stoned by the villagers before they slunk off. The villagers themselves were friendly enough. The Afghan type had disappeared, and the faces were either European, with a ruddy glow, or round, soft red and white Persian, with happy expressions, very different from the morose Afghan proper. On ascending tne bill commanding Herat plain, the city and valley could at last be distinguished "m their aspect of winter desolation and decay." The plain was dotted with ruins, notably the solitary remains of the Musalla --or place of prayer j "tottering towers and shattered walls were numerous." The haze over the city scarcely permitted its outlines to be s^eri, arid gave a phantom appearance to the mountain masses which shelter Herat, * *tne great mass of Koh-i-Band-i-Baba spreading to the east arid closing the valley, and to the west sinking m the rose peaks." The city walls appeared to be dilapidated on the south side, whether from crumbling or irregularity of the wall could not Vbe seen. The town is rectangular, and seems to cover an •area of about a mile. "In many respects the position is disappointing; it cannot be said to be a strong position although a mud-walled city with mutthouses will give stronger resistance than stone-built and ponderous structures. There are, however, m the valley, many favorable positious from which to strike the city. The Afghans appear to be sensible of this, for I noticed on the south side new works, and what appeared a new fort. The correspondent doubts whether Herat is, after all, the gate of India, and of. much strategical importance.