1849.] Kohistan of the Julhmdhur. 387 



plies the table of the Mundi-walla with game, and sport in procuring 

 it. The wild boar abounds in the wooded heights around, from which 

 they descend and commit great havoc in the fields of wheat 

 and sugarcane. The villages are generally situated on the slopes 

 of the mountains, where the inhabitants escape the effects of malaria. 

 On the Sikunder range are many picturesque-looking villages 

 and plots of terraced land which are limited at their upper extre- 

 mities by forests of pine, but on the opposite side of the valley 

 the slopes are more precipitous and covered with larger tracts of 

 jungle and forest, whilst the hamlets are more scattered and the cul- 

 tivation is less extensive. The summits of the Nautchney-ke-dhar are 

 also more lofty and are frequently covered with snow. Mundi-nuggur 

 is about 12 miles north of Sookeyt, and the road all the way is excellent. 

 It runs through the valley for the first 10 miles or so, and then passes 

 through a narrow ravine along the left bank of the Sookeyt river. Al- 

 together it is one of the most delightful marches I have ever made, for 

 the road is nearly as level as a bowling green for the greater part of 

 the distance, and look whichever way you may one cannot fail to admire 

 the majestic scenery. On the road we met scores of coolies carrying 

 on their backs kilta-loads of the Mundi salt. I have seen some of it 

 in the bazars of Loodiana and Subathoo. It is very impure and causes 

 the body to swell. From this circumstance I should suppose the peo- 

 ple either do not or cannot cleanse it sufficiently. There is a curious 

 custom practised in this neighbourhood. The women, gaily dressed, 

 assemble in groups to greet the stranger with songs as he enters each 

 village, for which honor he is expected to bestow a rupee on each knot 

 of Syrens which I thought was dear enough for such melody. The 

 rajah of Mundi is a handsome man, but his appearance and manners 

 are rather effeminate. He has two sons and is himself the natural son 

 of the late Rajah.* His income is reckoned at four lacs of rupees a 

 year, nearly the whole of which is derived from his salt and iron mines. 

 Half of the above sum be pays annually to Government. The present 

 Rajah is very fond of copying English customs, such as shaking hands, 

 driving a buggy, &c. Adjoining his zenana, which is a great ugly 

 building, he is erecting a palace of sandstone which promises to be a 

 handsome residence. In front of this is a large square tank, around 

 * For an account of this man see Moorcroft's travels. 



