128 HISTORY OF AURANGZIB. [CHAP. VII. dried clay, with earthen domes for roofs. Burnt bricks are seldom used, even in building the walls of forts.* Away from the river, agriculture cannot flourish, and sheep form the chief wealth of the people. Strategic import- ance of Qanda- har. The great Hindu Kush range running through the heart of Asia, strikes west- wards into Persia, and thus completely separates Central Asia from Afghanistan, Baluchistan and India. But north of Herat its formidable heights sink to insignificant levels, with comparatively gentle gradients, which offer an easy passage to an invading host from Central Asia marching to take Kabul from the rear and strike India on her western flank.f Herein lies the strategic im- portance of Qandahar: only 360 miles of level country separate it from Herat,- a ten days' dash for cavalry. Through Qandahar must pass, and there must be turned back, if ever at all, any considerable land force, with artillery and other modern impedimenta, coming to invade India from Persia or Central Asia. The master of Kabul must hold Qandahar and
- Masson's Journeys, i. 280.
+ Holdich's Gates of India, 528. Kandahar (a pamphlet), with an Introduction by Ashmead Bartlett, (1881). Digitized by Microsoft Ⓡ
