1850.] Descriptive notice of the District of Jhilum. 51 



pay reverence salaming to it and saying * show me the way, oh ! 

 mother.' Choya Saidan Shah is a very picturesque little place 

 embosomed in hills, with a clear stream of fresh water flowing through 

 it, which abounds in fish of the mahsir species. This rivulet escapes 

 from the pool at Kutas, which is about 2 miles from Choya and passing 

 by the salt mines of Mukrach, loses itself in the level plain to the south. 

 Choya is said to be the coolest place in the country in the hot season, 

 which is owing to its protected position and the number of fine trees 

 which skirt the side of the mountain stream. From Choya two roads 

 lead to Pind Dadan-khan, one by Dundot, the other by the salt mines 

 of Khyura, the former being that frequented by camels, the other 

 route being very rough and difficult. Dundot is a small village in the 

 summit of the range, commanding a fine view of the country round. 



The district of Pind Dadan-khan or more properly Khokar comprises 

 only 4 villages. Of these the chief is Pind Dadan-khan, a large town 

 containing 4000 houses, situated about a mile and a half, from the 

 Jhilum and 4 miles from the salt range. The inhabitants are chiefly 

 Hindus and engaged in the salt trade, the only manufactures being 

 ' bechobah' tents, woollen namdahs, and a few other articles. The town 

 contains a large mud fort with one or two good rooms in it, but nothing 

 else worthy of mention ; and is a straggling place consisting of three se- 

 parate towns, which have in the course of time been amalgamated, under 

 the common name of Pind Dadan-khan or Dadan-khan' s village. The 

 salt mines have been worked for ages, but we have no authentic account 

 of them before the time of Akbar, whose rates of hire for carrying 

 and loading still prevail. The following are the principal mines com- 

 mencing from the eastward ; 1 Jutana, 2 Khura, 3 Khyura, 4 Muk- 

 rach, 5 Sardi, 6 Sur, 7 Nilawan, 8 Choya, 9 Varcha and 10 Kala- 

 bagh. The best salt is extracted from Khyura, Sardi and Choya, 

 the largest of all the mines, being that of Khyura where there are 8 

 shafts, viz. Buggi, Sujwala, Mukhad, Matwala, Phurwala, Chengan- 

 wala, Trudde and Fakirwala ; the principal of which are the two first. 

 The Buggi shaft is of regular structure and contains first rate salt, but 

 the Sujwala is the most remarkable and the largest ; it is however, 

 rather dangerous, the roof sometimes falling in. ' The entrance is by 

 an irregular descent, and the distance to the place where the miners 

 are at work about 250 yards, but the shaft extends much further. 



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