Tashkurghan
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Tashkurghan
Town in Afghan-Turkistan, situated in 36° 42 N. and 67° 41' E. ; 1,495 f^et above the sea. It is the largest and richest place in the province, and the principal trade mart between Central Asia and Kabul. It is practically unwalled, though it possesses an Ark or citadel. Like Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, it is rather a mass of inhabited orchards than an ordinary town ; and the ground it covers (5 or 6 miles by 2 or 3 miles) is enormous compared with the population, which consists of not more than 4,000 families, chiefly Uzbegs and Tajiks. There are from 450 to 500 shops. The streets are only 10 or 12 feet wide, but are fairly straight, intersecting each other at right angles. The houses are mostly domed, though wood is fairly plentiful, there being many chindrs and poplars, as well as fruit trees, in the vicinity. Drinking-water is obtained from the Tashkur- ghan river, by covered conduits, which take off above the town. The grain production of Tashkurghan is small ; there is abundance of excellent land, but not enough water to irrigate it. Fruit and vege- tables are plentiful, and immense numbers of sheep are pastured in the surrounding country. I'ashkurghan is the head-quarters of a district of the same name.
