196 WYNNE: TRANS-INDUS SALT REGION, KOHAT DISTRICT. 



The quarries which are now open have been worked for a very long 

 time : the Jatta quarries since 1650, and those at Malgheen (Malgin) 

 from time immemorial, while those at Bahadur Khel are said to have 

 been originated twelve centuries ago. 



The following historical details are taken from Captain Plowden's 

 memorandum (of 1872) already noticed : — 



" Jatta is said to have been so called because it was first colonised 

 by Jats, but it is now inhabited by Khattaks. When Khushal Khan, the 

 warrior-poet, Khan of Teeree (Tiri), the bravest and most learned of his 

 line, came to Teeree (Tiri) from Akora (about A. D. 1650), the salt was 

 first quarried and sold for seven bulluck-loads per rupee to Bangashes 

 and Affridis, and twelve loads to Khattaks. 



a Maglheen (Malgin) is so called from the Pushtu word malga, or 

 salt ; from time immemorial its quarries have been resorted to, but Shah 

 Baz Khan, Khan of Teeree (Tiri), A. D. 1780, was the first to make it a 

 source of income. The Khans of Teeree (Tiri) and the villagers of 

 Malgheen (Malgin), Dur Tappee (Dur Tappi), Dorshand, and Kuree- 

 rosum (Kurirosum) have ancient proprietary rights therein. 



" Nurree (or Nari) is said to be so called after one Narrai, who first 

 settled here. He was succeeded by the Khoji Khel section of the land 

 clan of Khattaks. They roofed their houses with branches of the Pul- 

 losa (Phulahi?) tree (Acacia modesta) ; hence their village is also called 

 Pullos (Punnose ? on map) . Its salt hills were first generally resorted to 

 in the time of Shah Zaman Shah, Saddozai of Afghanistan (Circa 1800 

 A. D.) The Khuji Khels are the proprietors of the soil and reside in the 

 villages of Pullos, Tabbi, and Khurram. 



" Kurruk, so called from the large amount of cultivated land 

 (Pushtu karal, to cultivate) in the vicinity. It was first colonised in the 

 time of the emperor Aurungze'b, but its salt hills were not quarried and 

 resorted to by traders till about 1800 A. D. in the time of Shah Zaman 

 Shah, Saddozai of Afghanistan. The lords of the soil are the villagers of 

 Kurruk and Tappi, in shares of f rd and £rd, respectively. 



( 300 ) 



