a very ancient city of Great Bukharia, in the province of Balkh, situated at the foot of those high mountains which separate Indostan from Great Tartary. The city is exceedingly strong by its situation; and belongs to the khan of proper Bukharia, who uses it as a kind of state-prison to secure those he is jealous of. The town is not very big, but well built and very populous. It stands on the north side of the river Amu, about 100 miles from its source, and is a great thoroughfare for the caravans destined for Little Bukharia. The inhabitants are enriched by mines of gold, silver, and rubies, which are in the neighbourhood; and those who live at the foot of the mountains gather a great quantity of gold and silver dust brought down in the spring by torrents occasioned by the melting of the snow on the top.