DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0269
chap. ii. EXTENT.-MILITARY STRENGTH. 253
southern boundary. That plain is well known as
one of the richest portions of the Cabool dominions.
Il is of a circular shape, about thirty-five miles
broad, highly peopled and cultivated, watered by
nature and art. Within this limited space there
are numerous villages, which pay no taxes. The
Khuttuks, a tribe of Afghans, in the east, hold the
country twenty miles west of the Indus, for the
small sum of 12,000 rupees annually, which they
render to the chief of Peshawur. The villages on
the west, under the Khyber hills, do not pay any
thing; and those north of the Cabool river, with
some few exceptions, enjoy a like immunity. The
only places of note in the chiefship are, Peshawur
and Hushtnuggur, which are described by Mr.
Elphinstone. Peshawur has fallen into a state of
decay with its change of rulers, and it is doubtful
if it boasts of a population of one half the hundred
thousand souls which occupied it in 1809. Husht-
nuggur is the seat of one of the younger brothers;
Cohat is held by the other.
The military strength of Peshawur is unim-
portant. Its contingent of troops cannot be rated
above 3000, two thirds of whom may be cavalry.
The chief might rally round him a numerous body
of irregulars, or, as they are called, " ooloosee ;"
but they are badly armed, and not to be relied on.
Six pieces of artillery and 200 regular infantry
complete the power of the chief of Peshawur.
With money, the services of the Khyberees, and
other hill tribes, may be purchased on an emer-
gency ; but the chief has no treasury. In a religious
southern boundary. That plain is well known as
one of the richest portions of the Cabool dominions.
Il is of a circular shape, about thirty-five miles
broad, highly peopled and cultivated, watered by
nature and art. Within this limited space there
are numerous villages, which pay no taxes. The
Khuttuks, a tribe of Afghans, in the east, hold the
country twenty miles west of the Indus, for the
small sum of 12,000 rupees annually, which they
render to the chief of Peshawur. The villages on
the west, under the Khyber hills, do not pay any
thing; and those north of the Cabool river, with
some few exceptions, enjoy a like immunity. The
only places of note in the chiefship are, Peshawur
and Hushtnuggur, which are described by Mr.
Elphinstone. Peshawur has fallen into a state of
decay with its change of rulers, and it is doubtful
if it boasts of a population of one half the hundred
thousand souls which occupied it in 1809. Husht-
nuggur is the seat of one of the younger brothers;
Cohat is held by the other.
The military strength of Peshawur is unim-
portant. Its contingent of troops cannot be rated
above 3000, two thirds of whom may be cavalry.
The chief might rally round him a numerous body
of irregulars, or, as they are called, " ooloosee ;"
but they are badly armed, and not to be relied on.
Six pieces of artillery and 200 regular infantry
complete the power of the chief of Peshawur.
With money, the services of the Khyberees, and
other hill tribes, may be purchased on an emer-
gency ; but the chief has no treasury. In a religious