'Journal of a Journey from Persia to India through Herat and Candahar. Also Report of a Journey to the Wahebee Capital of Riyadh in Central Arabia' [‎54r] (107/268)

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ward rise a Hue of Hills, behind which is Laush; and on the left
of these hills, as I look on them, are the plains of Seistan, lost in
the horizon. We turned up a fair number of partridges in our
ride this morning. Just outside the north gate of the fort are
encamped some regular troops of the Ameer. But they look a
sad, tag-rag lot.
Returning to my quarters, the Deputy Governor called on me
in state. He is intensely fond of show. He tells me he was well
acquainted with Burnes, Sir W. Macnaughten, &c. On the
Deputy Governors right was a man who told me he was -with
Pottinger when he escaped from the Kohistan for Caubul, when
all the party save himself were killed or taken prisoners. Every
one speaks of Burnes as having been very hot-tempered, and
over-bearing.
Tuesday, 6th .—Left Furrah at sunrise for Khormalek, distant
about six fursacks. But immediately after passing through the
southern gate of the fort, we left the main line, and turning
south-wards, crossed some outlying spurs of the hills, until, after
a ride of about six miles, wo reached the ancient hill-fort of
Sipehpot or Roostum. It consists of solid stone and mortar
turrets, connected by massive walls of a similar description.
These turrets crown the summits, and these walls enclose the
upper precipices of a lofty, scarped, and detached spur of the
Paropamissus, overlooking the boundless plains of Seistan. Tra
dition asserts it was the place of greatest strength and considera
tion in all the regions of Seistan, and that all the forts in Seistan
owned its Suzereignty., I ascended the scarp. Rather more than
half way up we passed a burnt-brick well and reservoir, the former
of great depth, cut into the rock. Above this point the ascent to
the citadel becomes very steep, and there is a detached peak to
the southern and western extremity of the spur, which is at pre
sent inaccessible, although crowned with a massive stone-work,
rising sheer out of the rock, and known by the name of the
Treasury. Below, in the plain, at a distance of two or three
miles is another fort called the Fort of the Slaves. And past this
fort from a northerly direction arc traceable the ruins of an