256 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



and walls and massive gates. Surrounding these 

 forts, in which lie the huts of the inhabitants, are 

 the numerous orchards of peach and apricot, pear 

 and apple, pomegranate and mulberry, and on most 

 of the trees are grape-vines of the finest species. In 

 each of these valleys is one or more villages, each 

 village consisting of thirty, forty, or more forts within 

 short musket-range of each other. The first six or 

 seven of these valleys are inhabited by Shinwarrees, 

 having a total population of over 15,000 souls. Their 

 fields extend to a distance of about ten miles from 

 the hills, and are then succeeded by the dry, stony, 

 barren country above alluded to, or by the villages of 

 the peaceful Tajiks. The existence of this race is 

 another of the peculiar characteristics of Affghanistan. 

 Of Persian descent, quiet, industrious, peaceful, obe- 

 dient to every new ruler belonging to the Shia per- 

 suasion of Moslems, the Tajiks form the bulk of the 

 population, not only of the Jellalabad valley, but of 

 all the main level portions of all the chief valleys of 

 Affghanistan, and carry on their trade, and produce 

 most of the manufactures of Cabul, without interfer- 

 ing with the Pathans, and regardless of the changes 

 of governments or dynasties. It was owing to their 

 presence in all the large villages along the main route 

 of our troops from Dakka to Gandamuk, and in the 

 neighbouring villages along the south bank of the 

 Cabul river, that here no opposition was offered 

 quietly submitting to the new order of things, de- 



