| |
Vol.1. Badakhshan - This area is of great cultural and geopolitical interest because it includes such remote areas as the Wakhan Corridor, once a buffer between the Russian and British empires and now and area where the borders of the Soviet Union , China , and the Indo - Pakistani Subcontinent meet. The Poputation in this region is Afghan by nation and Tajik, Pamir Taanjik, Ghilzai, Turkman, uzbak, and Kirghiz by ethnic background. Vol. 2. Farah - If we compare this area with the one convered in the Badakhashan volume, we might characterize southwestern Afghanistan as the seat of an ancient civilization and an area of paramount archcological importance. Unlike Badakhshan, southwestern Afghnistan is largely lowland , desert and salt marshes, fanned by the bad-i -sad o bist ruze, the wind of 120 days. Vol. 3. The history is outlined in some detail, illustrating the fate ot the town which "enjoys teh preminence of having stood more sieges than almost any other city in Central Asia, having been depoputated and destroyed oftener, and always having risen from her ruins, if not always with renewed splendour, at all events with a vigour and a tenacity of life that is without a paralles." Vol.4. Mazar- i - Sharif - The Oxus River (Amu Daria) valley , which forms the boundary beetween Afghnistan and the Soviet Union, is described in considerable detail. Similar attention is paid to the Band-i-Amir, one of the principal rivers of the province, which also carries the name Balkh Ab. The Uzbaks , as well as other Turkie tribes inhabiting the area, are described as they existed at the turn of the century. Vol.5. Kandahar - It provides data on Afghan tribes, including the Barechis, Ghilzais, Kokozais, Mandozais, Mountains ,Nurzais.and Duranis- the latter is covered in a 70 -Pages appendix . Mountains and various geographical features are carefully examined , including the great desert regions of Registan and Shorawak , Which extend along the boundary with Iran in the west and Pakistan in the south. Vol. 6. Kabul - It includes the history of Jalalabad, incidents from Anglo-Afghan wars, such as the British defeats at Ghazni and the retreat throuth the Khurd Khaibar, Afghan tribes and ethnic communities , such as the Pawindas, Ghilzais, Nuristanis, Kharotis, and other are discussed . The system of taxes in various areas, on local weights, measures, and currenncy, as well as on the systems of land tenure and cycles of nomadic migrations.
|
| |
|