1833.] and Dr. Gerard, from Péshdwar to Bokhdra. 5 
while they are scarcely noticed beyond the Satlej; these opposite re- 
ceptions of course leave strong impressions on the feelings of individuals, 
«« Dost Muhammed gave us six introductory letters (one to the king 
of Bokhara) ; and on the 18th of May, we took leave of Kabul, under 
the protecting guarantee of a Nazir, a man of high connexions and repute, 
who however proved himself anything but agreeable. The opportunity 
was too favourable to require consideration, the man’s character was 
to be our passport, and as we anticipated difficulties in Morad Bég’s 
territory, we thought ourselves fortunate ; although we afterwards re- 
pented.—Our ill-favored guide was proceeding to Russia, to recover the 
property of his brother, who died there. On this occasion, Dost Muham- 
med Khan wrote a letter to the Emperor! !” 
«« The passage of the Hindi Kush presents no difficulties, and viewed 
in any way, shrinks to msignificance, compared with those portions of 
the snowy chain which you and I have seen. Even asa barrier to an 
invading army the difficulties are far from formidable by this route. 
The great pass, which is alone named Hindi Kish, is even more acces- 
sible, though more lofty ; we would have taken that route, but for the 
dread of encountering Morad Bég. The pass is worth seeing, especially 
as we heard some strange stories about flights of birds bemg so much 
baffled by the strong wind, that they no longer could fly against it, and 
actually took to walking for a change, when vast numbers were killed 
by the natives. The emperor Baber mentions the same thing, and the 
fact would seem to argue great elevation. The Hindi Kish has nolonger 
the configuration of the Himalaya; the steep cliffs of hard compact rock, 
which characterise that ridge, scarce appear here at all, and few of the 
peaks attain any remarkable altitude. The most prominent point was 
Kohi Baba, and I do not believe it rises to 19,000 feet: all the neigh- 
bouring heights appeared in bluff masses, resembling the contour of the 
mountains upon the Chinese frontier and the interior of Kanawar, which 
is evidently the effect of a different structure; and as far as I could 
judge from the nature of the road, wherever the bare rock was ex- 
posed, the elements of the whole range are of the class of formations 
termed secondary; and as we penetrated into the country, the hills 
changed into slate, gravel, and even mud, which last mixed with loam 
and calcareous rubble, all indurated by alternations of weather into a 
rugged hardness, compose the formation of the Bamean “ Bits,”’ or idols, 
which most people believe, and the natives themselves represent, to be 
cut out of the solid rock. But to return to the Hindi Kush :—we rode 
up to the pass, which is scarcely 11,000 feet in height; the snow lay 
deep upon the summit, but was fast retiring before the ardent sun, and 
