DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0224
208 MOUNTAINS OF HINDOO KOOSH.
overhung the valley on our descent; but before we
reached the plains, they were succeeded by rocks
of sandstone. In one of these, near Heibuk, I
observed round and separate stones of pure flint,
imbedded at regular intervals, and running in as
distinct a line as if they had been fixed by art. The
flint is extracted for military purposes. There is
also an extensive deposit of sulphur between these
last passes and Hindoo Koosh.
I have hitherto been describing the nature of
the country which fell under my own observation ;
but I have not spoken of the true mountain of
Hindoo Koosh, which lies about a degree eastward
of this route. This great peak is visible from Ca-
bool, and entirely enveloped in milk-white snow.
I saw it also from Koondooz, on the north, at a
distance of 150 miles. Its altitude must be con-
siderable, for the travellers complain of the difficulty
of breathing, and carry sugar and mulberries with
them, to ease their respiration ; and the strongest
of men suffer from giddiness and vomiting. Thou-
sands of birds are also found dead on the snow, for
it is believed that they are unable to fly from the
violence of the winds ; but it is more probable that
they are prevented by the rarity of the atmosphere]:
yet birds are used to higher elevations than men
and quadrupeds. They often attempt to walk
across ; and numbers of them are ensnared.* Beasts
of burden suffer as much as man, and many sink
and perish. The greatest silence is preserved in
* I observe that the Emperor Baber mention? fhis fact.
overhung the valley on our descent; but before we
reached the plains, they were succeeded by rocks
of sandstone. In one of these, near Heibuk, I
observed round and separate stones of pure flint,
imbedded at regular intervals, and running in as
distinct a line as if they had been fixed by art. The
flint is extracted for military purposes. There is
also an extensive deposit of sulphur between these
last passes and Hindoo Koosh.
I have hitherto been describing the nature of
the country which fell under my own observation ;
but I have not spoken of the true mountain of
Hindoo Koosh, which lies about a degree eastward
of this route. This great peak is visible from Ca-
bool, and entirely enveloped in milk-white snow.
I saw it also from Koondooz, on the north, at a
distance of 150 miles. Its altitude must be con-
siderable, for the travellers complain of the difficulty
of breathing, and carry sugar and mulberries with
them, to ease their respiration ; and the strongest
of men suffer from giddiness and vomiting. Thou-
sands of birds are also found dead on the snow, for
it is believed that they are unable to fly from the
violence of the winds ; but it is more probable that
they are prevented by the rarity of the atmosphere]:
yet birds are used to higher elevations than men
and quadrupeds. They often attempt to walk
across ; and numbers of them are ensnared.* Beasts
of burden suffer as much as man, and many sink
and perish. The greatest silence is preserved in
* I observe that the Emperor Baber mention? fhis fact.