270 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



ling Afghans. !N"o forehead -will be touched at our 

 approach ; and to our respectful Salaam Aleikoom, 

 there will sometimes not even he vouchsafed a scowl- 

 ing Aleikoom Salaam. Instead of cantonments and 

 bungalows, we find the mud-built and mud-walled 

 town of some Jam or Khan, or other territorial chief, 

 the black tents of some wandering Beluch tribe, or 

 the loose branches which form the only shelter for the 

 encampments of the Lumri and the Brahui. The 

 journeys are from well to well, or from valley to 

 valley. We require to travel with fire-locks in 

 our hands, or near us, in the care of some trusty 

 servant ; when lying down to sleep, they must be at 

 our side. The Afghan and Beluch are not inclined 

 to regard us with either overwhelming admiration or 

 very tender affection ; and when they catch us in 

 their own hills, it is just possible they may think us 

 fair game, for robbery and warfare are familiar to 

 them from childhood. 



However, even without entering into the danger- 

 ous country, much may be seen of its inhabitants. 

 The Sindees themselves are a timid fusionless people, 

 much given to the use of opium and bhang (Canncibis 

 indica), but some amusement may be got from them 

 as they appear in the gardens of the Fakeers, close to 

 the native town of Kurrachee. These gardens contain 

 some splendid trees, chiefly banyan, and during the 

 day afford umbrageous protection to the debauched 

 Fakeers, who require rest after the exertions of the 



