The Geography of the Puranas c8.165

c8.165

The next valley which is mentioned here is one which lies between Nāgaśail and Kapiñjala ranges. This is certainly the Farghana valley. The Purāṇic list of the products of this valley tallies so closely with the actual produce of this region that there cannot be the least doubt about its identification. It can be compared with the account of the Farghana valley given by Huen-Tsang who describes it as a land 4,000 li in extent, mountainous on every side, rich and fertile and abounding in flowers and fruit, sheep and horses. Similar account is found in modern books regarding that valley of fruit and flowers. They say, ‘under the same vast roof, in the cool shade between the Chaikhanas are stands filled high with sweet-smelling grapes, peaches, apples, pears, plums, pomegranates and melons. And then there are colourful heaps of tomatoes, pepper, egg-plants, cucumbers, cabbages, parsley, bitter yellow and sweet white onions, yellow carrots.... There are basketfuls of dried apricots with stone or stoneless raisins, dried peaches and musk melons, walnuts, almonds and pistachios’. ¹²