J 839.] Lieut. Irwin's Memoir of Afghanistan. 1013 



casion of emergency, however, it is known to leave its baggage behind 

 and make very long ones. The small armies now on foot on the sides 

 of the various competitors for the throne use, it is probable, more 

 mules and ponies than camels, and perhaps many years may not elapse 

 before the former species of carriage gain much ground ; the poverty 

 alone of the soldiery now prevents its more general adoption. Runjeet 

 Singh has made some progress in providing mules for part of his forces, 

 but his situation is not favourable for procuring those of the most ser- 

 viceable kind. 



161. For long journeys the camel is the most economical carriage, 

 and in caravans they outnumber all other animals. There are how- 

 ever some exceptions; the trade to Chinese Toorkistan from what- 

 ever quarter, seems to be conducted by means of ponies and horses. 

 Commodities brought by the people of Toorkistan to Cabul are almost 

 all on horses, but such of the inhabitants of this side of the mountains 

 as trade to Toorkistan mostly use camels. The trade from Peshawur 

 to Cabul, and Cabul to Peshawur, is carried on by means of all the vari- 

 ous beasts of burden in the country ; perhaps an equal weight of 

 commodities is annually transported on camels, mules, and ponies. 

 Some bullocks, originally Indian, bring loads from Cabul, but seldom 

 return, being readily disposed of in Peshawur. Bullocks are little 

 used for long journeys, except in the cases already mentioned (see 

 paragraph 160); a few attend the army besides those of the artillery. 

 With respect to the third species of carriage, it would lead into great 

 details to particularize the usages of all the various districts, for within 

 a short distance is often the greatest diversity of practice. On farms, 

 in a vast majority of cases, the chief carriage is by bullocks. The in- 

 tercourse between the towns and the neighbouring country, is as much 

 by means of other animals, except in the quarters towards India. The 

 wandering tribes in general have their tents carried on camels, but 

 where, as in the west of Toorkistan and north-west of Khoorasan, they 

 drink from draw-wells, the leathern bucket for drawing water is car- 

 ried by an ass or a bullock. The tents of the Ymaks in general are 

 carried on ponies and horses, but the Jamsheedus use a good number 

 of bullocks. In the upper Sindh and lower Punjab, asses bring the 

 greatest part of the fuel into towns. Asses bring great quantities of 

 grain from Bajbur into Peshawur; in the former country camels are 

 scarcely known, although the soil and climate is not unfavourable ; there 

 are still fewer in the moist country of Koonur; asses are of much use 

 in the internal traffic of both, and in the country of the upper Mihmuds. 

 In the plain of Peshawur, bullocks are mostly used in bringing grain 



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