694 Account of the Cabool and Peshawar Territories, $c. [No. 165. 



well wooded, and affords plentiful pasturage to the inhabitants. It is 

 crowned with perpetual snow, and an iron mine is said to exist in it. 

 It is not passable for camels, indeed the inhabitants know not the 

 animal by sight. On the northern side of the hill is Deer ; and on the 

 southern side, in the Darrah of Jandawal, is the village of Akhund 

 Mullah Timmur khan. 



From Deer to the north-west are mountains inhabited by Neem- 

 chah Musulmans, in which the Musk-deer abound, the hunting of 

 which affords occupation for numbers. A quantity of honey is also 

 produced. 



Below the fort of Deer to the east, flows the river which comes 

 from Kashkar to the north, and flows to the south. In it Otters are 

 very abundant, which the inhabitants catch for the sake of their 

 skins to make Posteens, or skin cloaks. These skins, with musk-bags, 

 honey, ghee and silk, are articles of export. 



Merchants from Kashkar and the Kohistan, bring Cashkar " Sha- 

 lukees," and Chapkans (woollen fabrics), and in exchange take away 

 grain. 



The merchants from the Eesafzai country and Peshawar bring oil, 

 cloth, cotton, sugar and spices, and take away musk-bags (Nafa), otter 

 (Saglahoo) skins, honey, ghee, silk, and Kashkar " Shalakees." 



The road from Swat to Deer is not practicable for camels, horsemen 

 pass along the river with difficulty, merchants carry their goods on 

 mules, bullocks, and men. The inhabitants know not what elephants 

 or camels are.* 



I will give specimens of the dialects spoken by the Neemchah Mus- 

 sulmans of the Kohistan, and by the people of Kashkar and the Baroo- 

 hee (?) (Purmoolee) — (Furmulee). 



* A story is told illustrative of the gross ignorance of the primitive Affghans. A 

 camel that had strayed from an encampment of merchants, found its way into a Barak- 

 zai khel, (they tell the story themselves,) where one had never been seen. The whole 

 Khel was struck with awe, and were at a loss, all but the village Mulla, who, although 

 as ignorant as his neighbours, determined not to appear so, and therefore boldly sug- 

 gested, or rather affirmed, that it was the Almighty himself, which they all believed 

 until a young one also made its appearance ; and they enquired of the Akhund how the 

 first one could be God as he had no fellow. The Akhund, not taken aback, boldly re- 

 buked them thus: "Why, you fools! the second is the Prophet to be sure." This 

 story I have heard half a dozen times from the blasphemy-dreading, holy-war-making 

 Affghans! 



