176

VALLEY OF THE OXUS.

BOOK I.

unhealthiness of Koondooz. Khooloom, Heibuk,
Goree, Inderab, Talighan, and Huzrut Imam, are
its subjected districts ; and except the last, which
lies in the Oxus, they possess a pleasant climate,
and have a rich and prolific soil. These districts
are watered by rivulets flowing into the Oxus, and
the soil is valued by the facilities which it enjoys of
being watered. Heibuk and Khooloom stand on
the same rivulet, the water of which is dammed up
on certain days, and allowed to run on others. The
gardens on its banks are rich and beautiful ; and
among the fruit-trees, one again meets the fig,
which does not grow in Cabool.

The countries that lie higher up the Oxus have
none of the defects of climate which are peculiar
to Koondooz, and both natives and foreigners speak
in rapture of the vales of Budukhshan, its rivulets,
romantic scenes and glens, its fruits, flowers, and
nightingales. This district lies along the valley of
the Oxus ; but its capital is further to the south,
and eastward of Koondooz. It is sometimes called
Fyzabad, but its more common and proper name is
Budukhshan. This once celebrated country is now
almost without inhabitants; it was overrun by the
chief of Koondooz about twelve years ago: its
ruler has been dethroned, and his substitute exists
as a mere pageant; its peasants have been driven
out of the country, and a rabble of lawless soldiery
is now quartered in the different provinces. It
also suffered from an earthquake in January, 1832,
which destroyed many villages, and a great part of
the population. The roads through many parts of