MISCELLANIES. 
five miles round; and contains 
about 100,000 inhabitants. The 
houses are built of brick (general- 
ly unburnt), in wooden frames: 
they are commonly three stories 
high, and the lower story is gene- 
rallyoccupied byshops. Thestreets 
are narrow, as might be expected, 
where no wheeled-carriages are 
used: they are paved, but the 
pavement sloping down to the 
kennel, which is in the middle, 
they are slippery, and inconveni- 
ent. Two or three brooks run 
through different parts of the 
town; and, even there, are skirt- 
ed with willows and mulberry 
trees. They are crossed by bridges, 
none of which, however, are in 
the least remarkable. 
There are many mosques in the 
town; but none of them, or of 
the other public buildings, de- 
serve notice, except the Balla His- 
saur, and the fine Caravansera.— 
The Balla Hissaur, is a castle of 
no strength, on a hill, north of 
the town: it. contains some fine 
halls, commands a romantic pros- 
pect, and is adorned with some 
very pleasing and spacious gar- 
dens; but, as it is only the occa- 
sional residence of the King, it is 
now much neglected. On the 
north it presents a commanding 
aspect; but a view of it from 
the side nearest the town, dis- 
closes strong signs of weakness 
and decay. Some of the palaces 
of the great are splendid, but few 
of the nobility have houses here. 
The inhabitants of Peshawer are 
of Indian origin, but speak Push- 
too as well as Hindkee. There 
are, however, many other inhabi- 
tants of all nations; and the con- 
course is increased, during the 
King’svisits to Peshawer. Wehad 
525 
many opportunities of observing 
this assemblage in returning from 
our morning rides ; and its effect 
was heightened by the stillness 
and solitude of the streets, at the 
early hour at which we used to 
set out. A litle before sunrise, 
people began to assemble at the 
mosques to their morning devo- 
tions. After the hour of prayer, 
some few appeared sweeping the 
streets before their doors, and 
some great men were to be seen 
going to their early attendance at 
Court. They were always on 
horseback, preceded by from 
ten to twelve servants on foot, 
who walked pretty fast, but in 
perfect order and silence: no- 
thing was heard, but the sound of 
their feet. But, when we return- 
ed, the streets were crowded with 
men of all nations and languages, 
in every variety of dress and ap~ 
pearance. The shops were all 
open. Dried fruits and nuts, 
bread, meat, boots, shoes, saddle- 
ry, bales of cloth, hardware, ready- 
made clothes, and posteens, books, 
&c. were either displayed in tiers 
in front of the shops, or hung up 
on hooks from the roof. Amongst 
the handsomest shops were the 
fruiterers, (where apples, melons, 
plums, and even oranges, though 
these are rare at Peshawer, were 
mixed in piles with some of the 
Indian fruit); and the cook-shops, 
where every thing was served in 
earthen dishes, paintedand glazed, 
so as to look like china. In the 
streets were people crying greens, 
curds, &c., and men, carrying 
water in leathern bags at their 
backs, and announcing their com- 
modity by beating on a brazencup, 
in which they gave a draught to 
a passenger for a trifling piece of 
