Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-05-09
HER

w nCtOtr inc husSliu "tt'du'S "PV' w"
northwestern troatier OF Algh1niStan
shall he stayed at the moun Gains or pass
on TO Herat the coming summer, remains
TO he seen. Sooner or later 1t must be
determined, by skilliul diplomacy or
much fighting, whether Russia or Eng
land shall hold that time-honored Key OF
Central Asia. Meantime all readers OF
t.I4ornnhlc nnws from that nnhrfnr- are
asking for information touching the pres
ent condition of the city and its sur
roun,lings, and the reasons for its appar
ent importance from commercial and mill
it.ry points ot view.
Tue geographical situ1tion ot HerAt,
81 deg % min. n. lat, 81 deg. min. Il.
long. with its elevation OF about 2,50O
iert above the sea, gives 1t charming
climate. The valley in which it lies is
the granary of Afghanistan. and its SUR
rounding gardens yield fruits correspond
ing with those of Southern Europe. Cen
trial New Mexico has about the same lati-
tude and similar climate, though less
temperate and somewhat drier. The
plain Of Herat is well wa'ered by canals
from the Herit River, and is said to con>
tain fully 400 square miles of arabic land.
The upper valley of the Herr is described
as beautiful rolling country furnishing
the finest of pasture lands. Three or four
miles south of Herat the river is crossed
by magnificent bridge of 23 arches.
The territory tributary to Herat ex-
tends east and west from near the sources
of the Heri to the Persian frontier, abou:
800 miles; formerly it extended north and
south 200 miles from the Merv boundary
to the northern limit of Seistan. The
Russian conquest of Merv has cost Herat
all its territory on the plain north of the
Parapomisus Mountains, and has pushed
the disputed boundary to within 40 miles
OF the city to the north, as the Russians
claim, or about twice that distance ac>
cordiug TO the English and Afghan au-
thorities.
The city is in the form of quadrangle,
nearly mile on each side. On the west
ern, southern, and eastern faces the lines
of defense are almost straight, and are
broken only by the great gates and their
deienses. The northern line is broken bv
two gigantic earthwOrks,tbe old citadel
nj ha oif 1.l h,riI of flraH
bricks. The city wall rests on the sum-
nit of huge embaukment averaging $50
feet wide ut the base and fifty feet high.
The wall proper which crowns this vast
carthwork is 25 feet high and Ia feet
thick at the base. 1t is surrounded by
ditch S6 feet wide and 16 feet deep, and
is supported by $50 semicircular towers.
Tho colossal character of these earth~
works leads Sir Henry Rawliuson to in
date from prehistoric times from that
period of Central Asian history which
preceded the rise of the Achaemenian
power, and which in Greek romance is
illustrated by the names of Bacchus.
Hercules, and Scmiramis. Its dominant
position with reference to Central Asian
and Indian affairs is proved by military
history unequaled 10y any other city--a
record OF more than fifty sieges, under
taken, AS Vambery has pointed out, not
so much for the sake of the rich soil
which surrounds Herat, as on account OF
the desire for conquest with which it has
inspired sometimes India, sometimes
Central Asia.
lhe population of the city under these
great vicissitudcs Of fortune has naturally
varied greatly. In t,nnus of great pros>
perity aud peace it has numbered mill
l.vn or more; at other times it has dwin-
died TO few thousand; now, 1t is various
ly estimated from $4,000 to $4,000 or
more. Il IS believed that the present
city comprises only tho citadel of the
city that once covered the surrounding
plain for many miles.-Scieutific Amcri-
can.