1859.] Notes on K/tfirisldn. 357 



on his return. This is done each morning before setting out for the 

 next stage. 



The war-party having arrived near the borders of the territory of 

 their foes, determine on some spot as the base of their operations ; 

 at which place also they agree to meet, if possible, every night. 

 On this arrangement being completed, they roam throughout the 

 hills, forests, and valleys, in search of enemies — sometimes alone, and 

 sometimes in parties of two or four, and at times in larger bodies. 

 In the evening they meet together at the place agreed upon, and 

 relate to each other the adventures of the day, and the number of 

 Muhammadans they have killed. 



A few years ago the Si'ah-posh had no fire-arms whatever amongst 

 them; but at present they are much better provided with flint lock 

 pieces than the people of the Kohistan of Kabul, Lamghan, Badaklr 

 shan, or Panjkorah. Where these fire-arms come from, I cannot 

 discover — probably, the}' are of Eussian manufacture, imported by 

 way of Kokan to Chitral, with the people of which latter state they 

 are on friendly terms. I see no other route by which they could 

 obtain flint-lock pieces, unless made in the Panjab or Kashmir, and 

 thence carried into their country by way of Gilgitt and Chitral. 

 The Afghans have, generally, match-locks only. 



The original weapons of offence used by the Kafirs are bows and 

 arrows, the former about four feet in length, the latter nearly two ; 

 and a long and broad knife of a peculiar curved shape, and about 

 two feet in length. They also use a smaller knife, about twelve or 

 fifteen inches in length, for cutting their food with. Some few 

 possess swords, the spoils of their enemies. 



They so much exceed the Muhammadans, by whom they are 

 surrounded on all sides, in point of intrepidity and skill in their 

 mode of warfare, that, hitherto, none of their enemies — save for a very 

 short period, and then only in far superior numbers — have been able to 

 oppose them with success. 



Their mode of fighting is, to lie in ambush near the villages and 

 grazing grounds of their enemies ; for they very rarely attack them 

 openly or in large numbers. Being very strong and active, they 

 seem particularly fitted for stratagem, in which they are infinitely 

 superior to their neighbours. 



3 A 



