1844.] Itinerary from Herat to Cabool via Candahar. 847 



beard they look upon as sacred ; nevertheless in place of allowing it to 

 grow naturally, they cut it to a fantail shape ; they also clip the centre 

 of their moustaches, allowing the sides only to grow to any length. 



The province of Candahar since 1818, has been governed by five 

 brothers, Peerdil Khan, Khandil Khan, Sherdil Khan, Ramdil Khan, 

 and Meerdil Khan ; the principal authority is now in the hands of Peer- 

 dil Khan, on the death of the latter in 1826. Their troops are about 

 six thousand cavalry, and four of infantry ; with more revenue, it would 

 be easy to double this force. The Candaharians are good swordsmen, 

 but not being disciplined, have no steadiness ; they receive but small 

 pay, and only assemble when wanted. The infantry are armed with 

 sword and matchlock, long, but of small bore ; they have about twenty 

 pieces of cannon almost useless, and without artillery-men to serve 

 them. The rulers of this country seem to have adopted for maxim, to 

 know no other law than their own absolute authority, grasping for 

 money ; there are no means to procure it, that they are not capable of. 

 With them to be rich is a crime, which soon brings on confiscation and 

 ruin. They have debased their coin until the alloy preponderates. All mer- 

 chants and strangers arriving here, before being allowed to circulate 

 any foreign money, are obliged to get it stamped, paying a tax of 5 per 

 cent, or run the risk of its being confiscated ; also every merchant before 

 leaving this, is forced to have each article marked by an agent of Go- 

 vernment, on which there is a fixed rate, evading which, his whole pro- 

 perty is seized, and lost to him for ever. It follows that the commerce 

 of this place, which was once so flourishing, has become almost nothing. 

 Candahar was once the " entrepot" of the produce of India and Persia; 

 it still receives from India supplies via Shikarpoor ; shawls from Cash- 

 meer by way of Cabool, which are sent on to Persia paying a transit 

 duty, which is generally arbitrary. Silk and cottons that are manufac- 

 tured here barely suffice for home consumption. The principal trade 

 is in madder, tobacco and dried fruits, which are sent to India. 



The road which leads to Shikarpoor is not much frequented by mer- 

 chants ; it is a difficult and dangerous route, and about 360 coss long ; 

 at the end of this journal, will be found an abstract of the route, given 

 to me by a native of Candahar,* who has often travelled it. This route 



• As this route has been travelled now by our troops, a more correct one is substi- 

 tuted. 



