588 Journal of a Tour through parts [No. 139. 



26th Shawal. — Arrived at Kaneeguram, which is the capital of the 



Wuzeeree country. The cultivation is carried on by 

 Kaneeguram. 



running streams. The inhabitants are Sayads, who 



are the spiritual fathers of the Wuzeerees. The houses are upper- 

 storied, and amount to four hundred. There are two large towers for 

 the protection of the town. There are thirty-two shops, as follow; viz. 

 sixteen of Hindoos, seven blacksmiths and cutlers, three goldsmiths, 

 two scabbard makers, and four dyers. The headmen are Durvesh Khan, 

 Sarwar Khan, Mulook Khan, Abdukahman Khan, Raim Khan, and Noor 

 Khan. The amount of fighting men is five hundred. The Sayads are far- 

 mers; the Wazeerees are independent, and are mostly herdsmen. They 



are at enmity with the neighbouring tribes, but internally 

 Concord. 



united. To the east are the Khataks, to the west the 



Gholaree Pass, to the north Dour, and to the south Tak. The cul- 

 tivation is not at all proportionate to the supply of water ; the stream 

 River, that runs to Tak has its rise here. To the west, in the Pass, 

 is a very lofty and extensive black mountain, called Peer Karal, in 

 Peerkaral. w hich I was informed copper is to be found. Disputes 

 between the neighbouring chiefs led to the mines of this mineral be- 

 ing closed. The people also believe in the existence here of stones 

 impregnated with gold. I much wished to visit this mountain, but 

 was prevented by the cold, and want of a guide. Throughout the 

 hills iron abounds, and there must be no less than fifty or sixty manu- 

 factories. The price of unwrought iron is 3 rupees Mehrabee the pucka 



maund. In Tak the Wuzeerees sell the quantity for 

 Price of Iron. * 



4 and \\ rupees. Merchants purchase it from the 



Wuzeerees for 2| and 3 rupees. Beyond the Peer Karal hill, coal is 



Coal, found, which is called " Sang-i-momyie." The method of 



extracting the iron is as follows : A pit is dug, about three and half 



Iron, feet in diameter, and the same in depth, the top of which is 



closed with a perforated cover of clay : over this is spread a coat of 



charcoal, which is made in great quantities in the neighbouring hills ; 



over this the stones containing the iron are heaped, being first broken 



small, and over them again charcoal is heaped ; round this heap five or 



six bellows are applied. The iron falls through the perforated cover 



into the pit, from which it is extracted to be wrought before being 



sold. The iron in being wrought, loses three-quarters and five-eighths 



