It is situated in the third climate. Its length from Ḳalát Banjárah to Ghor and Gharjistán* is 300 kós: its breadth from Sind to Farah is 260 kós. On its east lies Sind; to the north Ghór and Gharjistán; on the south Síwi, and on the west Farah; Kábul and Ghaznín on the north-east. Its mountains are covered with perpetual snow which seldom falls in the city.

Eighteen dinárs* make a túmán, and each túmán is equivalent to 800 dáms. The túmán of Khurásán is equal in value to 30 rupees and the túmán of Iráḳ to 40.

Grain is for the most part taken in kharwárs, the kharwár being equivalent to 40 Ḳandahári man, or 10 of Hindustán.

The capital of the district is Ḳandahár. Its longitude is 107°* 40', and the latitude 33° 40'. It has two forts. The summer heats are extreme and the cold in winter is inconsiderable, but the ice-pits are filled in December and January. Once in three or four years a fall of snow occurs and is hailed with delight. Flowers and fruits are in abundance. Its wheat is extremely white, and is sent as a present of value to distant countries. At a distance of five kós is a hill called Azhdarkoh (the Dragon Hill) in which is a wonderful cave known as the Cave of Jamshíd. People enter with lighted lamps, but the oppression of its atmosphere prevents exploration of its extent. Eight kós from Ḳálát is a large mountain in the side of which is a huge cave called Ghár i Sháh (the King's Cave). Within it are two natural columns, one of which touches the roof of the cave and is 30 yards high. Water flows down it and enters a basin at its foot. The other is 11 yards in height. The waters of the Hirmand (Helmand) which rises between Balkh, and Kábul, flow in this direction along the skirts* of the mountains. The meaning of Hirmand is ‘abound-ing in blessings.’ Mauláná Mụínu'ddín in his history of Khurásán records that it feeds a thousand streams. At a distance of 16 kós is a mountain, at the base of which is an area of land called Natíl,* formerly full of water­courses, where melons are grown in great quantity and perfection. The mountain has several clear springs. There is also an iron-mine, and at the foot of the mountain is an iron-foundry for the smelting of the ore, a work of ancient times.

West of Ḳandahár is a long torrid tract of country, (Garmsír) through which flows the Hirmand. One side of it touches the Dáwar* territory, and on the other Sístán. There are many forts and much cultiva­tion on both sides of the river. In this neighbourhood once stood a large city, the residence of the Sulṭáns of Ghor, and many ruins still exist of the palaces of its ancient kings.

Between the Hirmand and Ḳandahár is the well-known city of Mai­mand, described in old astronomical tables.

Wheat and barley are called Safédbari.* The jaríb of sixty (square) yards is used for measurements, but they reckon 30 yards of this according to the Hijázi jaríb, each yard of 24½ digits, the gaz there in use; equal altogether to 54 gaz of Ḳandahár. In the exchequer, out of every ten kharwárs, two are taken for the minister of finance on account of revenue and jihát cesses. Cultivation is reckoned under seven heads. In the registers, the best kind of land is marked with an <Arabic> and calculating the produce of each járíb at 3 kharwárs, 24 man are taken as revenue. Thus:

No.	Kind of land.	Distinguishing Mark.	Produce in Kharwárs.	Revenue in man.
1	Best.	<Arabic>	3	24
2	Best and Medium.	<Arabic>	2½	20
3	Medium.	<Arabic>	2	16
4	Medium and Poor.	<Arabic>	1½	12
5	Poor.	<Arabic>	1	8
6	Poor and Poorest.	<Arabic>	30 man.	6
7	Poorest.	<Arabic>	8	4

But if the husbandman is incapable of sustaining this class of assess­ment, the produce is divided into three heaps, two of which are taken by the tenant, and the third is again subdivided into three shares, two* of which go to the revenue department and the third is charged to incidental expenses.

The revenue from grapes also is taken by agreement and by pay­ing a special rate. In the latter case experts appraise the average outturn of the vineyard and exact 4 báberies for each kharwár. Under the reigns of Báber and Humáyún the rate was fixed at 2 báberis and 4 tangahs. The baberi is one miskál* weight and 2½ are equivalent to the rupee. Besides these three (wheat, barley, grapes), upon nine other articles called sabzbari, 7½ báberis are taken for every jaríb, formerly rated at 5 báberis, viz., rice (Sháli), musk-melons, water-melons, cucumbers, onions, turnips, carrots and lettuce. On other crops than these, two báberis were formerly taken, the Turkománs exacting three.

In the torrid tract (above-mentioned, between Dáwar and Sístan), the safédbari crops are divided into three heaps according to the Ḳandahár custom and all crops paying special rates are registered under the <Arabic> and <Arabic> class (No. 2), and for every jaríb, 50 man of the torrid tract (Garmsír) equalling 20 man of Ḳandahár, are taken. The kharwár of this district is 100 man, equivalent to 10 man of Hindustán. Grapes are treated in the same manner as at Ḳandahár. All articles under Sabzbari, pay two baberis on each jaríb.

In the Dáwar tract, produce under safédbari is apportioned in three heaps as described above and the exchequer receives for every 4 jaríbs, one kharwár weight of Dáwar, which is equivalent to one kharwár and ten man of Ḳandahár, and for other produce, one kharwár on three jaríbs.*

Containing 24 Mahals. Revenue 8,114½ túmáns, 39,600 dinárs: 45,775 sheep; 45 Balochi horses: 3,752,977 kharwárs of grain; 420 man of rice; 2 kharwárs of flour; 20 man of clarified butter. It furnishes 13,875 Cavalry and 25,260 Infantry. Ḳandahár city—5,270 tumáns in cash; 35,120 kharwárs of corn; 550 horse; 1,000 foot.