1840.] Notes on the Eusofzye tribes of Afghanistan, 929 



pertness in the use of their weapons, render them formidable to the irre- 

 gular troops, but their peculiar mode of warfare incapacitates them 

 from contending against a regular army. It is evident that a body 

 of disciplined cavalry could, with the greatest facility, put to rout and 

 cut up a herd of men scattered here and there over a level plain, 

 totally ignorant of tactics, and without unanimity. We need no further 

 proof of their incompetence to contend on the plain with even semi- 

 disciplined troops, than is afforded us by the battle of Noushera, in which 

 though stimulated to the utmost by religious enthusiasm, they were 

 defeated by less than a third of their numbers. 



Of the Kohistan, my information, is, I must confess, very imperfect, 

 and will be here limited jto nearly a barren detail of names. 



The tribes of Booneer and the neighbouring hills, may be said to have 

 no chiefs of any importance, the only individuals possessing influence 

 being a family of Syuds, the descendant of Peer Baba, a celebrated saint, 

 who lived in the time of the Emperor Humaioon. 



Of this family, there are three principal branches amongst the Eusofs. 

 The representatives of the elder and most influential branch are, Syud Azim 

 and Syud Meeah of Tukhtabund, the capital of Booneer, who may be 

 compared to the Abbot Boniface and Subfriar Eustace of the novel ; Syud 

 Azim, the elder, a good-natured, indolent character, having willingly 

 resigned his authority to his more active and talented brother. The 

 second branch is Syud Akber Meeah, of Sitana on the Indus; and the 

 third, Syud Russool of Chumla. 



Chumla, only separated from Booneer by a low range of hills, is near- 

 ly in the power of the latter ; however, unless when some popular ques- 

 tion is agitated, it is able to maintain its independence. It is divided 

 among three proprietors. A colony of Komalzyes occupy the west portion ; 

 Noagee the chief town is the property of Syud Rusool ; and the rest belongs 

 to Mahomed Khan, a relation of the Punjtar family, on which indeed he is 

 in some degree dependent. 



The tribes of Swat differ from those of Booneer in paying more obedience 

 to their Khans, and being less under the direction of their Syuds. Their 

 most influential, religious character, is Mooreed Sahebzadeh of Oochoond, 

 near Thanneh ; but the respect paid him is variable and unequal. 



In Upper Swat there are four principal chiefs. The most northerly is 

 Pshuh Khan of Sundi, of whom I only know the name ; next to him in 

 position is Mudar Khan of Mingoweer, below whom are Kashun Khan, the 

 son of Arsilla Khan of Bandeh (whose family were at one time of much 

 consequence among the Eusofs) and Khadir Khan of Hodigram. 



Lower Swat has but two chiefs who deserve mention. One is Zydoollah 

 Khan, who was originally in joint power with Passund Khan at Thanneh, 



