[20] As the text in Mr. Elphinstone’s work describes the neighbourhood of Balkh to be a plain, the mountains in his map are probably an error of the engraver.
[21] About three shillings.
[22] I brought from Toorkistan melon seeds of every description, which I have distributed in this country and India, in the hope that this delicious fruit may be introduced into Britain and our Eastern possessions.
[23] Some observations of my fellow-traveller, Dr. Gerard, determine this most satisfactorily. A bowl-full of water altogether disappeared in two days.
[24] Since this chapter was written I have been favoured with a sight of the journals of Mr. Geo. Trebeck, who accompanied Moorcroft to Ladak, where this information is completely confirmed. That enterprising young gentleman determined the latitude of the two places to be as follows:—
| Cashmere, | 34° | 4′ | 28″. |
| Ladak | 34 | 10 | 13. |
[25] Macartney.
[26] Since I drew up the information contained in this chapter, I have fallen in with the “Mémoires relatifs à l’Asie,” by M. Klaproth. Speaking of the translation of the history of Khotan, by M. Abel Remusat, that distinguished Orientalist adds, “Nous attendons avec impatience ces traductions, et nous engageons ce savant à les donner an public aussitôt que possible, pour faire disparaître des abrégés géographiques un amas d’absurdités reçues à bras ouverts par les compilateurs, et entre lesquelles le double Kachgar occupe le premier rang. Le voyageur Anglais, M. Elphinstone, ayant entendu parler de la ville de Kachgar dans le nord de la petite Boukharie, et du pays du même nom situé dans la partie méridionale de cette contrée, n’a pas su autrement combiner ces notions que de supposer deux Kachgars. Il est cependant bien clair que dans le premier cas il était question de la capitale, et dans le second du pays qu’elle gouverne.” Tom. ii. p. 293. It is satisfactory to find my observations on the two Cashgars confirmed by so high an authority as M. Klaproth, but I cannot agree with him in his inference, that the one is the country, and the other the capital; since it has already appeared in the text that Cashgar, which erroneously fills up so large a part of the country eastward of Budukhshan, really exists as a small district near Peshawur.
[27] The whole of the altitudes have been determined from the boiling point of water in thermometers carefully examined and compared, reckoning each degree roughly to be of the value of 600 feet.
[28] Dundan-shikun.