Travels in India (Tavernier) 17.1.3

17.1.3

Between Kandahar and Chakenicouzé, on the frontier of India, there is a country where many small Chiefs rule and render some allegiance to the King of Persia. From Chakenicouzé to Caboul (Kabul) 40 coss. In these forty coss of road you only find three poor villages, where they have seldom got bread and barley for the horses, and the safest plan is to carry a supply with you. In the months of July and August a hot wind prevails in these quarters, which suffocates and kills suddenly, being of the same kind as the wind of which I have spoken in my accounts of Persia, which prevails also in certain seasons near Babylon and Mosul. Kabul is a large town, fairly well fortified, and it is there the people of Usbek come every year to sell their horses; they estimate that the trade in them amounts annually to more than 60,000. They take there from Persia also, many sheep and other cattle, and it is the great meeting-place for Tartary, India, and Persia. You can obtain wine there, and articles of food are very cheap.