Balkh

Balkh, a district of Afghan Turkestan, the most northerly province of Afghanistan. It was for some time subject to the Khan of Bokhara. It corresponds to ancient Bactria, and lies between 35° and 37° N. lat., and 64° and 69° E. long. It is bounded on the N. by the river Oxus, on the E. by Badakhshan, on the S. by the Hindu-Kush, and on the W. by the desert. Offsets of the Hindu-Kush traverse it in a NW. direction, and slope down to the low steppes of Bokhara. Its length is 250 miles; its breadth, 120. Its situation was once important during the overland commerce between India and Eastern Europe before the sea- route by the Cape of Good Hope was followed. The soil has the general characteristics of a desert land; only a few parts are made fertile by artificial irrigation; and such are the vicissitudes of climate, that where grapes and apricots ripen in summer, and the mulberry-tree permits the cultivation of silk, in winter the frost is intense, and the snow lies deep on the ground. The natives are Uzbegs (q.v.), whose character differs in different districts.