1836.] and the ancient province ofTaxila. 479 



cupolas, of very ancient date. Not far from thence are the ruins of 

 Rachekhi. Further off the remains of the town of Jamrud may be 

 observed at the entrance of the defile of the Kheibar mountains. 

 The route from Peshawar to Michini betrays signs of old habitations at 

 Pirbala and Pessank. The road to Kohdt presents also the remains 

 of Boulidana, which may possibly be Embolima of Alexander. Quite 

 close to this, Deliter may be seen ; and further off, at the entrance of 

 the defile of the Kohdts, are the ruins of Kargan, Akor, Zenddn ; and 

 in the districts of the Mtimunds may be also seen those of Aspinagar, 

 Bassevanan, and Ormul. 



The province is divided into six districts ; namely, the Kaleels 

 to tbe west, the Mumunds to the south, the Ddddzais, the Dudb 

 to the north, the Kalissa to the east, and that of Hashtnagar to 

 the north-east. These several districts yield a revenue of eight 

 lakhs of rupees, without including the cantons of Kohdt and 

 Lachiteri, which bring near two additional lakhs. The district 

 of Kohdt is inhabited by the Bungeish, and is celebrated for the 

 beautiful springs of limpid water which meet at the foot of the 

 surrounding mountains. A coal mine exists in this territory, but 

 the inhabitants derive but small profit from it. A mine of sulphur is 

 also to be found there, but it is not worked ; and some petroleum 

 wells or mineral tar, which the inhabitants use to light up their 

 dwellings. Adjoining to this pergannah are the districts occupied 

 by the Theris, and beyond this is the province of Banutdk. 



The district of the Dudb is so called, because it is enclosed between 

 the two rivers of Nagumdn and Jindi. It is very fruitful in rice and 

 sugar-cane, and abounds in beautiful and fertile meadows. It isi 

 inhabited by the tribe of the Gigidnees. In the district of the Abdzais 

 are the ruins of Gound, but their origin is not known. Still further 

 in the direction of Tengi is the isolated mountain of Azarneh, which 

 might well be supposed to be the Aornus, the conquest of which 

 was one of Alexander's most brilliant exploits. The fortress of 

 Hissdr is only ten kos to the N. E. of Peshawar : it is situated three 

 kos from the river of Nagumdn, in an island formed by two branches 

 of the river Jind, which flows from the outskirts of Sawdt and Bajd- 

 war. This fortress is conspicuously raised on a small artificial hill. 

 At its foot are extensive ruins of an ancient town, apparently 

 founded by idolaters, and upon which is built the actual town 

 of Hashtnagar, a name meaning the seven towns*. Our geographers 



* Hashtnagar, meaning eight towns. The whole eight are named on 

 Wilford's map. — Ed. 



