92 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. I, 



from actual survey. But towards the end of 1856, it became neces- 

 sary for the Punjab force, commanded by General Chamberlain, to 

 proceed into the Koorum valley, in order to effect the restitution of 

 property stolen by its inhabitants from British subjects. This valley 

 lies on the direct road from Kohat to Ghizni, at the foot of the 

 southern slopes of Soofaid Koh range. The inhabitants are chiefly 

 Tooree Pathans, who are subject to the ruler of Kabul, and pay him 

 revenue when he can send a force strong enough to collect it. His 

 agents accompanied the expeditionary force, and are believed to 

 have availed themselves of the opportunity to collect their master's 

 dues under threats that they would otherwise turn the British troops 

 against the recusants. The whole valley was peaceably surveyed as far 

 west as the Paiwar pass immediately below the Seekaram mountain, 

 the culminating point of the Soofaid Koh range, where it rises to 

 an elevation of 15,640 feet above the sea. The pass is not on the 

 watershed of the range, but is merely where the road crosses a large 

 spur which can be avoided altogether by a circuitous route, through 

 the Chum Kanni district to the south. It is about 7000 feet high, 

 and derives its importance more from the populous and wealthy town 

 of Paiwar at its foot than from its elevation. The Koorum river 

 rises about 60 miles farther west among the Zoormut valleys, where 

 the Soolimani range abuts at right angles against the Soofaid Koh. 



In the spring of 1857, Col. Lumsden, his brother, and Dr. Bellew, 

 started on their memorable expedition to Kandahar. Crossing the 

 Paiwar Spur, they descended into the Kurryab valley occupied by 

 Pathan Tribes of Jajis and Munguls until they reached the Hazarda- 

 rakht Nuddi ; or stream of the thousand trees, one of the principal 

 confluents of the Koorum river. Following this to its source, they 

 arrived at length at the Shooturgurdan or camel neck pass at a height 

 of 11,400 feet, on the watershed which parts Jellalabad, Kabul and 

 Ghizni from Kohat, Koorum and Wuzeeristan. 



From this elevation they descended westwards through the vallej^s 

 of the Sooliman Khel Ghilzies into the plains at the head of the 

 Logur valley, south of Kabul, whence it is but four marches to 

 Shekhabad and Saidabad on the main road between Kabul and Ghizni. 



In the autumn of 1859, and again in the spring of the following 

 year, the Punjab force under the command of General Chamberlain, 

 was required to operate against the Wuzeeries to check their propen- 



