552 



Note on the Passes into Hindoostanfrom the West and North-west, and 



the use made of them by different Conquerors. 



The following Note was prepared for official use and reference, rather than for the 

 prosecution of literary and scientific researches; the interest attaching to the subject 

 at this juncture, will excuse its publication in this shape, without that full citation of 

 authorities and elaborate comparison of statements, which in a more formal Essay might 

 be expected, and for the complete satisfaction of the learned on controverted points 

 would be indispensible. — H. T. P. 



The river Indus has always been regarded as the natural boundary 

 of India, but its valley is within that country ; the real boundary is the 

 range of mountains that shuts in the elevated plains and arid deserts 

 of Afghanistan. 



The Indus, after a course of near 500 miles to the north-west, wash- 

 ing the northern foot of the Himalaya, and fed by tributaries from the 

 north and south, breaks through that chain after receiving the waters 

 of the Gilghit valley from the N. W. The slide of one of the moun- 

 tains of the pass submerged that valley about a year and a half ago, 

 and the accumulated waters, reopening suddenly the closed passage, 

 produced a most destructive inundation, (the rise at Atuk being no 

 less than sixty feet,) which sent a back stream seventy miles up the 

 Kabool river. The Government wished to have this convulsion of 

 nature examined, and Dr. Jameson was deputed, with the assent of the 

 Sikh government, to follow the river Indus up for the purpose ; but the 

 insurrection of the Afghan tribes defeated this intention, and we have 

 consequently no intelligence to be depended upon of any of the passes 

 north of Atuk, where the Kabool river flows into the Indus.* 



* Mons. Court, an intelligent general of the Sikh army has, however, given the 

 following list of the ferry points of the river above Attock: 1. Bazar Hound; 2. 

 Monari; 3. Pehoor; 4. Nachhee; 5. Kabbel; 6. Chitabha; 7. Amb; 8. Durbund; 

 9. Chuturbahi; 10. Mabera; 11. Toohara; 12. Morer; 13. Didel; 14. Kamache; 

 15. Buhar; 16. Pachetlehi; 17. Guendoo; 18. Mateeal; 19. Buttera; 20. Jendial and 

 Manial; 21. Kalchi; 22. Palespatan; 23. Pohoogoojee; 24. Koonchir; 25. Jalkoot. 

 We know further that Futeh Khan Vuzeer, carried a force by Durbund and Mozuf- 

 furabad to relieve his brother in Kashmeer, before that valley submitted to Runjeet 

 Singh. Mahmood of Ghuzni also went by the same route into Kashmeer, and from 

 thence made an expedition into Kashghur. These routes, however, are only open for 

 a few months of summer, and are not likely to be chosen by an invading force aiming 

 at the conquest of India. 



