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Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1528, 30 March 1885, Page 3

it start the numerous roads which penetrate the furthest recesses of Cmi tral Asia, which lias* marked it out from very nun 'Cc times as the great einpo rium of that part of the world. Tin* >ugh the wide valley at its feet flow the shining waters of the Herivud, from which a coinprensive system of legation enhanced tlie natural fertility of its soil, ail -iibled -.ast crop* ot every kind t«» »* :*i*-cl ny a mm.? .ousaud indust rio n v >p.i : asi'-»'i. It 3--i b* w* of « reat vi iii tv. tha te..-.ii cc .itir.y tr.ive,'l*rs 8 io; • ia j,l)*i ig tor.ns of its fots, its ga.-l-u. anl jf t.ie b-.i«y crowds, of 'll; _, i its ' lit ; I." »»,' * l tt>* biZ I fl"*.. N3r-TiV!3t:iridi'i<» mi it n,s possession was freely contested by su.-uessive invaders, and "its bavin,' u.i.ler^me on several occasions all tlie horrors of a seige an I capture, iv *_ii itaiuug its position as the cfieif city of Asia, the seat of arts and sciuuee, wUose workers in gold, "iiver, and steel were fam-'d throughout Asia, wliiie its vary gVie-i w*rn orn tinted with iiple-ided carvings fringed with polished Steel. In 1381 the city was taken by f'araerlane, who delivered it ov« fo pillage and destruction, aud destroyed its walls and towers, and utterly des-p-»i!ed it of all it* -,'itli-ivd tmi-nr.-s. But in a few years' tin\e. the bMieficeiit sway of his sou Mirza Shah Rokh all traces of the' rava ,es inflioted by the invaders wHL-e o'tiiLji-acj i, *> ' ii- •*- --attained to a higher pitch of prosper ity than hefore. This it maintained for about 100 years, when early in the Sixteenth century the dynasty of the Uzbags was overthrown by Persia, whose armies overran the entire province of Khorasan. Tho rule™ 0 f that country henceforward Strove with considerable succ^i to divert the scat of trade from H'-jrat to Mashed wiHii i the Persien territo y. To this end the deported great numbers of the best artificers and crafts nni. aud offered them <*very inducement to remain in theii home. The result could not fail to be detrimental to Herat, the glory of which hence -forward depaAed ; but the trade still clung to the old routes, »nd it continued to held a p isition of considerable importance until early iv the eighteenth century, when the Afghans attacked and drove out the Persians, and declared tlie province in dependent of that kingdom. From that date it has groaned under the rude domonion and grinding exactions of the barbarous mountaineers until the only traces of its former prosperity remain ' iv the ruined walls ard broken aqueducts, nnd the vast system of works that ensured the fertility Of its surrounding country, which could uot only supply the wants of its own large pop ulation, but offered large quantities for export to the arid regions across the Oxus, which were regularly penetrated by the cara vans of enterprising traders. Such is a short sketch of this most famous city and district, which for jaany hundreds of years was looked , upon by invading Powers as the gate way to India, through which everyone of the numerous' conquering dynasties that have overrun the country has set ] forth on his career of victory. Ahsit amen.— Sydney Morning Herald.