HERAT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1955, 2 April 1885, Page 2

HERAT.

From Palm wo obtained ouv first view of Herat, and it was with mingled feelings that ,we gazed upon its minarets and battlements rising out of the gardens and vineyards, I cannot trespass upon your space in order to (Jescribe this once splendid city ; if any of your reader wish for a graphic account of Herat—stratagetical, political, and topographical—l would refer them to Malleaon's" Herat.". Here I content myqplf witli quoting Conolly's description-" Tho city is situated at four miles' distance from lulls- on the north, and twelve from those that run south of it. The space between the hills is one beautiful extent of little fortified villages, gardens, vineyards, and cornfields, and this rich scene is brightened by many small streams of shining water, which cut the plain in all directions. A dam is thrown across the Heri Rud, and its waters being turned into many canals, are bo conducted over the vale of Herat

that overy part is watered. Varieties of, the most delicious fruits are grown in the valloy, and they are sold cheaper even than at Mashad: the necessaries of life are plentiful and cheap, and the bread and water of Herat are a prflgjfb for their excellence. I really nevesP England even, tasted, more delicious water than that of the Heri Rud; it is as clear as tears, and, the natives say, only excelled by the waters of Cashmere, which make those who drink them beautiful." The original inhabitants of the Herat' Valley seem to.to: have been Persians, but since the. invasions of pheniz Khan • and Timour there has been an infusion of Turco-Tartiiric. blood,, and-the. people, under tho collective name of' Char Eiiak, arc now divided into the fouriP>es Jainsliidi, Firazkuri, Taimani, and TTmuri. The following is Vambers descrip- : tion of the population of Herat city. "The eye is bewildered by jtho diversity of races, Afghans, Indians, Tartars, Turcomans, Persians, and Jews. The Afghan parades about either in his national costume, consisting of a long shirt, drawers, and dirty linen clothes, or : in his military undress, and here his favourite garment is the red English coat, from which even in his sleep he will not part, He throws it on over hirfc&irt, while he sets on his head the piccSKque Indo-Afghan turban. Others agam, and these are the beau monde, i are (wont to assume a half-Persian costume; weapons are borne by all. Rarely does anyone, whether civil or military, enter the bazaar without his sword and shield. To be quite a la'mode one must carry about one quite an arsenal, consisting of two pistols, a sword, pointed liandyrj gun and shield. With the wild, martial-looking Afghan, we can only compare the Turcoman-like Jamshidi. The wretchedly dressed Herati, the "naked Hazara, the Timuri oi ie vicinity, are overlooked when the Af[ is present. He encounters nothing iSdt. abject humility, but never was ruler or' conqueror so detested as is the Afghan by the fleratis."—London Times,