240 TKAVEL, ADVENTUBE, AND SPORT. 



where the river is narrow ; and hemmed in between 

 high banks are situated two of their villages Shinpok 

 and PalosL Every raft must pay a fee before passing 

 these, or run the gauntlet of a fire from the ever-ready 

 sharpshooters on either side. The exactions thus 

 levied on traders became at one time so heavy that 

 the trade began to diminish largely. Then the 

 late Ameer entered into an arrangement with the 

 Khwaizais, by which it was agreed that, for a yearly 

 subsidy of 10,000 Rs., the Khwaizais should undertake 

 to protect all traffic between Dakka and the Tarakzai 

 country, and levy no fees. This 10,000 Es. was to 

 be paid them by the Khan of Lalpoorah, who was to 

 deduct it from the amount yearly paid by him to the 

 Ameer. The non-fulfilment of this contract during 

 the unsettled times of our advance was the chief cause 

 of the trouble given us by the Khwaizai Mohmunds 

 during the last months of the occupation. 



When first the survey party entered Shilman, 

 however, all was still quiet. We pushed along, 

 unmolested and even assisted by the inhabitants, 

 across the series of rugged mountain-slopes falling 

 abruptly from the Tartara range to the river, and 

 reached Shilman in safety. 



Here we were joined by certain of the Tarakzai 

 chiefs, who begged of us to go through their country 

 to Michni, and were positive that we would recom- 

 mend a certain route called the Shinilo, along which 

 no Sahibs had yet travelled, to the notice of the 



