'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎25] (158/458)

ON THE PROVINCE OF PESHAWUR.
25
frequently visiting shrines and places where Devotees are buried ; and
on the nights of Friday, in particular, they attend to dances at the
different shrines, which they consider a religious duty.
The next shrine is that of Akhund Durweza Baba, also to the
south east, and two others to the south—that of Suyed Hassan, and the
other of Shaik Hubeeb, In this latter place lie the remains of Sir
dar Yar Mahomed Khan, brother of Sultan Mahommed, son of Surafraz
Khan, and therefore brother of Dost Mahommed of Kabul, but by a
different mother ; Shaik Iwuz, the devotee before mentioned as the
friend of Mr. Elphinstone, and most of the principal people of Peshawur.
The Balia Hissar, or fort of Summerghur, alone remains to be men
tioned. It occupies the site of the old Balia Hissar, which was almost
entirely rebuilt by Shah-i-Zeman, who added to it a Hall of Audience,
Zenanah, and various other buildings, as also a fine garden, called the
“ Shalah-i-Mah, ,; or the “ Light of the Moon.” It w as in this residence
that Shah Shujah received Mr. Elphinstone. From the time that the
Barakzai Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. obtained possession of the country, it went to ruin,
and on account of the hatred between the Barakzais and Suddoozais,
the royal tribe, it was not repaired. When the infidel Seiks got posses
sion of the country, they completed the destruction begun by the Ba
rakzais : they destroyed the garden, and cut down the beautiful trees,
which they used for firewood. The present Fort was erected by Sheer
Singh, the son of Kunjeet, at his father’s order, and in consequence,
whatever remained of the old Balia Hissar was razed to the ground.
It was built mostly of unburnt bricks, and is rather imposing in appear
ance ; but of no great strength. It might have held out for ever against
any force that the Affghans could have brought against it during the
late Campaign.
Attak is nothing in comparison to it: if Attak could have held out
so long, surely Peshawur could have done the same. It has two
walls with corner bastions, and others of a smaller size between. The
outer wall is about 25, and the inner wall about 75, feet in height,
and commands the city, from which its south-west angle is distant 60
yards. It is surrounded by a dry ditch of no great breadth or depth,
and several of the embrasures are faced with mortar or chunam. The
situation is almost due east and west, with the entrance to the north.
It contains magazines and a few other buildings, which are mean in ap~
vol. x. 4