1864.] 



An Account of Tipper Kdsfi-Mr. 



139 



The people, who depend chiefly upon tillage for subsistence, also 

 possess numerous herds of cows and oxen, goats, and buffaloes. Sheep 

 are met with in great numbers, and never reach a higher price than 

 three rupees, or six shillings. Lately, I find, they have been brought 

 to Pes'hawar for sale, in considerable numbers. A good buffalo can 

 be purchased for from twelve to twenty rupees ; but cows constitute 

 their chief wealth. Loads are mostly carried on the backs of oxen 

 and asses. Notwithstanding that fodder is abundant, horses and mules 

 are by no means common ; but some few of the former animals are 

 kept for military purposes. Camels are seldom seen in the country. 



One-tenth of the agricultural produce is received by the ruler. 

 Cattle are not subject to any tax ; but a capitation, or house tax is 

 levied on each house at the yearly rate of three rupees. 



The rupee in general currency throughout the country peopled by 

 the Yiisufzis, is the old Herat coin, worth about twenty-five per cent 

 less than the East India Company's rupee, which is also in circulation, 

 since the annexation of the Panjab, to a limited extent. 



From the bounds of the village of Panj-korah to that of U'shfri, 

 grain is sold by weight ; but beyond, a measure, called ao-ga'i in 

 Pus'hto, is used instead. The sir of Panj-korah is one-fifth less in 

 weight than that of Kabul ; and the ao-gdi is equal to three quarters 

 of the Panj-korah sir. 



The present* prices for articles of general consumption are at the 

 following rates :— Wheat, seven Panj-korah sirs the rupee; barley 

 eight sirs ; shali or unhusked rice, eight sirs ? ju"dr 1 seven sirs ; 

 salt, brought from Pes'hawar, six sirs ; roghan or clarified butter, one 

 sir ; gur, coarse sugar, brought from Pes'hawar and Jelalabad, one sir 

 and quarter ; honey, one sir and a quarter ; cotton, five-eighths of a 

 sir— about eighteen ounces English ; iron three sirs ; M-di—the 

 coarsest description of cotton cloth — eight Lam-ghan yards. 



A few articles, the produce of Hindustan, are imported; but the 

 chief imports, which consist of articles of apparel aDd clothing of 

 various descriptions, and a little indigo, are brought from Pes'hawar 

 by the traders of that city and district, numbers of whom visit the 

 country, and take back in exchange, iron, honey, and roghan or clari- 

 fied butter. 



■ * This paper was written a few years since : the prices may have therefore 

 altered, and allowance for any errors must be made accordingly. 



