146 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
modation and security of his band. He cut an aper- 
ture through the summit of the hill, to admit light 
and a free circulation of air into the great chamber, 
and some secret galleries, from apparently inaccessi- 
ble spots, to communicate with caverns which were 
to serve as treasuries. He also erected hidden 
stockades, at intervals, along the pass; so that a 
handful of men might have defended it effectually 
against the largest army. 
The free and adventurous occupation upon which 
he had entered was, in every respect, exactly suited 
to the wild spirit of the daring Yakoob Lais; except 
only that it appeared to set a limit to his ambition ; 
which suffered him not to regard it as a fixed mode 
of life, but as a means of obtaining that wealth which 
he intended should eventually raise him to extended 
power and importance ; and he always encouraged 
his followers to anticipate a similar improvement in 
their condition. In this lawless career he found it 
necessary to exact from his followers, with a firm 
hand, the most implicit observance of his orders ; and, 
having his future plans always in view, he was 
especially careful to avoid all cruelty or unnecessary 
outrage. With so much moderation, indeed, did he 
practise his misdeeds, that he was never known to 
pillage the needy, or to deprive any travellers of the 
whole of their property ; but having ascertained their 
circumstances, he invariably took from them just 
as much as he thought they might spare, without 
