BALISNA—BALKH.
14
a double range, the Coimbatore boundary being the western watershed of the Gundal river as far as Honnemetti one part, running north and south, from lat. ii° 40' to lat. 12° 10' n., averages about 4500 feet above sea level, the highest peaks being on the eastern ridge and rising to 5300 feet; Bedugiri, the southern peak, is 5000 feet high. The valley between the two ridges, which is heavily wooded and frequented by elephants, is watered by the Gundal and Honnuhole streams. The
are uninhabited
hills
Balisna.
—Town
—See Biligiri-r. g. . Khadi
Division,
Baroda
State, Guzerat,
Population (1881) 5002, namely, males
Presidency.
2477
.
in
-
— —
Bombay
2525, females
—
See Afghan Turkistan. Balkh. Province of Afghanistan Balkh. City of Afghan Turkistan, Central Asia. Balkh properly lies beyond the scope of this work, but as it has much interest as a .
seat of ancient civilisation, the following description
of it has been condensed from Colonel Macgregor’s account. It should be borne in mind, however, that no official authority attaches to articles in the Imperial Gazetteer dealing with territory beyond the Indian frontier. The famous and ancient city of Balkh has fallen to The City The ruins extend decay, and now consists of an old and new town. .
—
about 20 miles. They consist of fallen mosques and decayed tombs built of sun-dried brick, but there are no relics of an In its wide area the ancient city age prior to iSIuhammadanism. appears to have enclosed innumerable gardens, which increased its and from the frail materials of size without adding to its population for a circuit of
which it
its
buildings are constructed, the foundations being only brick,
may be doubted
if
Balkh was ever a substantial
three large colleges of
handsome proportions now
with their cells empty
but
it
a
mud
city.
There are
in a state
of decay,
wall surrounds a portion of the town,
must be of recent construction, since it excludes the ruins on The citadel on the north side has been
ever)' side for about 10 miles.
more
solidly constructed.
It is
a square enclosure, with a turret at
each corner, erected upon an artificial eminence ; and this fortress, though entirely abandoned, is, as well as the mosques, colleges, and a
long
bazar.,
in
very
fine
Ancient Balkh stands on and not upon them as has been
condition.
a plain about 6 miles from the
hills,
There are many inequalities in the surwhich may arise from ruins and rubbish. Forty years ago there still remained among the ruins many good houses but when some of these fell down from the effects of rain, and exposed vases full of gold which had been concealed in the walls, the inhabitants of the south part proceeded to demolish everything erroneously represented.
rounding
that
was
fields
left
standing, in the hope, of finding
case their trouble
is
not thrown away,
for
more they
treasure. sell
the
In any bricks
to
