'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎26] (159/458)

asssaes
26 LIEUTENANT U.G.RAVERTY
pearance, and of but little consequence. The height of Dakhee, just
outside the Kabul gate, in the possession of an energetic enemy would
cause great annoyance to the garrison*
THE DISTRICTS OF PESHAWUR.
The Province of Peshawur is divided into six Tuppahs or Districts,
each of whic}i is inhabited by a separate tribe, who are quite indepen
dent of the other. These Tuppahs are Doabah, Hashtnuggur, Khali-
sah, Daondzai, Momuncl, and Khulleel. The four last are round about
*r ■ < • \ i . ' ' ' v 'v • • \. '
the city, the two former are on the opposite side of the Kabul river.
The Tuppah-i-Doabah is so called, from being situated between two
rivers, which its name implies, viz. the Lundye, or as it is sometimes
termed the river of Suwat, and the Kabul, which latter stream on its
entrance into the plain from the Khaiber mountains, separates into
three streams, viz. the Shahallum, the Naguman, which is the main
stream, and the Addozai: these two latter belong to the Doabah. These
rivers, therefore, are of great advantage to the district, and which is not
overlooked by the people. The canals are cut in every direction for
the purposes of irrigation, and are very numerous. The villages situ
ated near the banks of the Lundye, are numerous, and well peopled; but
on approaching the mountains to the west, the villages are much
smaller, and the inhabitants much fewer in numbers. The soil is for
the most part sandy, whether near the mountains or near the rivers, by
reason of which the houses are built of wood and canes ; for the soil
will not admit of being made into bricks. The ground is also marshy
in many places, in which these canes or reeds flourish in the greatest
luxuriance, and are used at Peshawur for building purposes, besides be
ing made into mats and other articles. The inhabitants of the district
are of the tribe of the Grigyanee, one of the large clans of the Affghans,
and said to amount to 20,000 souls. There are a few Hindu shop
keepers, and a few Peshawurees, who are cultivators of the soil.
The principal towns are, Shabkadir and Batgiram. The town
of Shabkadir, which is about a mile distant from the Fort of the same
name, contains about 400 houses; but on account of the Fort being oc
cupied by a strong garrison, a thriving town has sprung up around it,
and the town of Shabkadir has consequently suffered thereby. Many
of the dwellings are in ruins; and the number of inhabitants does not
exceed one thousand.