Account of the Kingdom of Caubul, and its Dependencies in Persia, Tartary, and India
Comprising a View of the Afghaun Nation, and a History of the Dooraunee Monarchy

A detailed description of the culture, geography and political situation of contemporary Afghanistan, first published in 1815.

Mountstuart Elphinstone (Author)

9781108036719, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 June 2011

740 pages, 14 b/w illus. 2 maps
29.7 x 21 x 3.8 cm, 1.74 kg

Mountstuart Elphinstone (1779–1859) was a Scottish diplomat and colonial administrator. After joining the civil service of the East India Company in 1796 he was appointed the first British envoy to the Court of Kabul in 1808. In 1819 he was appointed the Governor of Bombay, and after his retirement in 1827 he devoted his life to historical and literary studies. First published in 1815, this volume contains Elphinstone's detailed description of the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Elphinstone describes the geography, economy and political situation of the kingdom and provides a brief account of Afghan history. He also gives the first detailed ethnographic accounts of the various Afghan tribes and ethnic groups in the kingdom. This fascinating volume informed British military and diplomatic policy in the region until the 1840s, and remained the main source of information on the culture of the Afghan tribes for much of the nineteenth century.

Preface
Notice regarding the map
Introduction
Book I. Geographical Description of Afghanistaun: 1. Situation and boundaries of Afghanistaun
2. Mountains of Afghanistaun
3. Rivers of Afghanistaun
4. Natural and political divisions of Afghanistaun
5. Of the climate of Afghanistaun
6. Animals, vegetables, and minerals of Afghanistaun
Book II. General Account of the Inhabitants of Afghanistaun: 1. Introduction, origin, and early history of the Afghauns
2. Divisions and government of the Afghaun nation
3. Marriages, condition of women, funerals, &c.
4. Education, language, and learning of the Afghauns
5. Religion, sects, moollahs, superstitions, &c.
6. Hospitality, predatory habits, &c.
7. Manners, customs, and character of the Afghauns
8. Of the inhabitants of towns
9. Of the great
10. Trade of Caubul
11. Husbandry of Caubul
12. Taujiks, Hindkees and other inhabitants of Afghanistaun
Book III: 1. Particular account of the Afghaun tribes
2. Eastern tribes continued
3. Mountain tribes
4. Western Afghauns
5. Ghiljies, cities of Chuznee and Caubul, Wurduks and Caukers
6. Naussers
Book IV. The Provinces: 1. Bulkh, or Bactria and the Uzbeks
2. The Eimauks and Hazaurehs
3. Heraut
4. Seestaun
5. Belochistaun and Lower Sind
6. Upper Sind, Moultaun, Lya, and the countries between Leia and Cashmeer
7. Cashmeer
Book V. The Royal Government of Caubul: 1. Of the king
2. Administration of the government
3. Of the division of the kingdom into provinces
4. Of the revenue
5. Justice and police of the kingdom
6. The military establishment
7. The religious establishment
Appendixes.

Subject Areas: Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]