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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