AMONG THE AFFGHANS. 257 



lighted with the unusually high prices obtainable for 

 the produce of their fields. 



Although less warlike than the Pathans, they are 

 strong, and brave enough to hold their own ; and if 

 properly managed, would form a powerful support to 

 any settled government. Hitherto their humility and 

 love of peace have, however, only laid them open to 

 heavy exactions ; while their wilder neighbours have 

 borne but a very small proportion of the burdens of 

 the state. 



The Shinwarrees of the Khyber, occupying the 

 western end, known as Loargai, not only showed no 

 open hostility to our troops, but cordially co-operated ; 

 early brought wood, grass, &c., for sale ; helped the 

 sappers and other soldiers in cutting the roads ; sup- 

 plied escorts for camels when grazing, and mules for 

 transport of stores ; and invited our medical officers 

 to attend to their sick women and children. The 

 very next sections of the tribe the Sungookhels and 

 Merjankhels acted in precisely the reverse way. 

 Occupying cave-dwellings among the barren rugged 

 hills lying south of the road from Lundi-kotal to 

 Dakka divided into small communities owning no 

 supreme authority living a nomad life, sometimes 

 among the forests of the Safed-Koh and the upper 

 portions of the Triab, at others among their own low 

 grass-covered hillocks, they had nothing to lose but 

 their flocks and herds. These they early hid away 

 among the rocky fastnesses ; and from the day that 



