170 „ / >
KABUL AND PESHAWUR. [CHAP. VIII.
lofty minarets,1 the tomb of Sultan Mahmood, and some other
buildings, still attest its ancient grandeur.2
Kabul Proper is the most northern portion of the present
Afghan territory: it stretches from Bamiyan eastward to the
Indus, having the Hindu Kush on the north, and Ghaznein
on the south.
"Hie river Logurk runs northward from this fortress to the
capital, near which it joins the Kabul river, which comes by
an eastern course from the mountains some miles westward.
The united waters of the Ghaznein and Kabul streams now
run along the valley of the latter, in which it receives the
Kama, the Lundye, and numerous tributaries from the slopes
of the Kohistan mountains; and being constantly augmented,
it eventually carries a great body of water along the plain of
Peshawur into the Indus above Attok; but owing to the
rocks, and the violence of the current, it is only navigable for
rafts below Jellalabad.3
The extensive city of Peshawur contains about 100,000
Muhammedan and Hindu inhabitants, who enjoy a healthy
situation, although the heat is more intense than that of any
other place in this part of Asia. The houses, although of
unburnt brick, are substantial, and usually three stories high.4
This important commercial mart was one of the places
founded by Acbar the Great for the benefit of his subjects;
and its well-chosen site is surrounded by fine orchards and
productive fields near the centre of an exceedingly rich circular
plain, of about 30 miles^ in diameter.
This tract, which constitutes the whole of the territory,
touches the river Indus on the east, and is elsewhere surrounded
by mountains. Its western limits are formed by the
range of Sufeid Koh, through which there are four5 passes
in the direction of Kabul; the principal being that of the
Khybur, by which Nadir Shah advanced towards India, and
1 Belonging to the mosque called the Celestial Bride.
8 Elphinstone’s Kdbul, p. 432.
8 Ibid., p. 114. London, 1815, * Ibid., p. 5 5 .
5 The Tatara and Ab-Khana (water route) are practicable for guns, but that
of the Kadassa has not a gun road.—Major Hough’s Narrative, p. 311. Allen
and Co. 1841.
through which Mr. Moorcroft accompanied Sultan Muhammed
in the opposite direction in 1824. The most difficult part is
formed by the defiles of Ali Masjid, near the Choora stream,
where bare and almost inaccessible mountains of 1300 feet
high inclose this part of the pass, which, for the distance of one
mile, separates the two clans of Khohi Khail and Zaka Kha'il.
The western extremity of this difficult defile opens into the
Khybur valley, which is inclosed on each side by hills rising to
the height of about 700 feet, and it has an average width of
1500 paces through a distance of 16 miles, when it terminates
in another narrow defile1 leading to the village of Dhaka, in
the valley of Kabul. The present capital is situated between,
and partly on the acclivities of two ranges of hills, which
shelter its northern and southern sides. This celebrated city
occupies less space than Kandahar, having barely a circumference
of three miles. The bankers’ and other bazaars are
extensive, and display ample supplies of different kinds of
merchandise. Southward of the town is an irregular citadel,
stretching its walls, towers, and houses up the h ill; so that
these last may be seen from without, rising in succession to
the highest building, which is a house, or rather a defensible
tower, constructed by Sultan Muhammed Khan.8
Kabul is compact, of moderate size, and constructed chiefly
of wood, on account of the earthquakes which are occasionally
felt there. The city is washed by a stream which bears its
name, and is placed amidst numerous gardens and groves of
productive fruit trees, at the junction of two fertile valleys, descending
from the south and west. The tomb of the Emperor
Baber is on a most agreeable spot at the top of a hill overhanging
the river S.W. of the city. It is surrounded with beds
of anemones and other flowers, and commands a noble prospect.3
Eastward of the city are numerous valleys descending from
the north, in which are raised an abundance of the finest
European fruits. The whole country enjoys the advantage of
a delightful climate, and abounds with enchanting scenery;
1 Huft-chah, between Lundu-Khana and Dakka.—Elphinstone’s Kabul,
p. 315.
8 MS. of Mr. Masson’s First Journey into Afghanistan; and Major Hough’s
Narrative, p. 283. 8 Elphinstone’s Kabul, p. 434.