1880 ] R. C. TemiAc—Jioutc of the Tal Clol'udi Field Force. 



155 



where to the west of the Kho'ja AmExIN Eange. These are square dwellings 

 of mud (kacbcha) bricks about 20 feet by 12 feet and some 6 to 8 feet 

 high surmounted by one or more small domes. In this method of construc- 

 tion wood is not required for the roof, a great consideration in a treeless 

 country like South Afghanistan («zie fig. 1). But the hut of the Pishin 

 Valley and neighbourhood has a sloped roof (fig. 2) supported on strong 

 rafters, thatched and finally covered with mud. This roof is by far the 

 most valuable part of the structure, and during their numerous migrations 

 they carry away the wood-work to be set up in the new site. The usual 

 measurements of such a hut are roughly : length 18 feet, breadth 6 feet, 

 height of wall 6 feet and of roof 10 feet. They have no windows but 

 usually three small holes at either end for air and smoke. A hut generally 

 stands in a small yard surrounded by a rough stone or mud wall and some- 

 times there are two or three huts in the san^e enclosure. 



As the mountainous regions between the Pishin and Shor Valleys are 

 approached, the huts become much rougher though constructed on the same 

 principles. They are irregular structures of mud over foundation walls of 

 largo unhewn and uncemented stones from the nearest stream or hill-side, 

 and frequently also the back wall is the hill-side itself. The roof as before 

 is of thatch covered with mud. There is also often a small window hole 

 and the door frequently stands out from the roof on the principle of a 

 dormer window (fig. 5). The general dimensions are height 10 to 12 

 feet, height of rough stone-work 3 feet, of mud wall 1 to 2 feet, length 10 

 to 12 feet. 



Up in the mountains and in the upper gorge of the E. Ro'd the dwell- 

 ings degenerate into a mere irregular thatch of leaves and brushwood of 

 a pyramidal or conical form supported by a centre pole and having a door 



I or entrance at one side. Frequently a hole is scooped out from the hill- 

 side and thatched in, so as to form a rough kind of hut or dwelling. These 

 conical huts measure generally : height 10 feet, diameter at base 10 feet 



j {vide fig. 4) . 



On reaching the lower lands about O'bushtkat, Khwaka. and 

 CniMJAK, a hut very similar in appearance to that of the lower Eo'd 



j Gorge is to be seen, the roof of which is irregular and of thatch covered 

 with mud and supported on irregular rough stone walls cemented, so to 

 speak, with mud. There is usually no gap for a window {vide fig. 8). The 



j measurements are : length about 12 feet, height of wall 3 feet, total height 



1 8 feet. 



In the mountainous tract between the Sno'n and Zho'b valleys the 

 huts are very wretched and have the appearance of being of a temporary 

 character. The fioor is scooped out of the ground on tlie hill-side so as 

 to save a back-wall, and a wall about 3 feet high is built up on three sides 



