'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎27] (160/458)

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ON THE PROVINCE OF PHSHAWUR. 27
The Fort of Shabkadir is situated on a natural mound, of no great
elevation ; and contains an area of 6G0 yards, and the walls are about
45 feet in height. It is octagon in form, and has eight bastions, with
a tower or keep in the centre, and is built of mud and sunburnt bricks.
A thriving town named Derauj, stands to the south of the Fort, with
which it is connected by a wall of about 8 feet in height, in an un
finished state. The entrance to the Fort is on the town side, which
latter has two gates. It contains about 1000 inhabitants, and has a
good Bazar, containing 150 shops, the whole of which are kept by
Hindus ; the houses are small, and built of mud. A rivulet from the
river Addozai, runs past the north side of the Fort, and two other ri
vulets flow by its eastern side, where there is the residence of a Fackeer
or Devotee, and around which there are a few mulberry trees. The
revenue of the town and fields belonging to it, amounts to 9,000 Ru
pees. Batgiram, which is the larger town of the two, contains about
2,500 inhabitants. It is also known by the name of the “ Shair-i-Do-
abah,” or the “ City of Doabah,” from its size. The houses are built
chiefly of very small stones, and are thatched with canes. It is inter
sected by several rivulets, and yields a revenue of 21,000 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. : a
small police force is also stationed here. The other principal places are
Kangra, Serekh, Murouzai, Dalzak, Mogul Khail, Nesrutzai, Sokhtah,
Panjpow, Apkai, Adeezai, and thirty-seven smaller villages.
The Tuppah-i-Hashtnuggur is also called from eight towns of the dis
trict, which are much larger than any others in the province of Pesha
war. Many people imagine that these eight towns are close to each
other: if I mistake not, it is so mentioned in Thornton’s Gazetteer ; but it
is not the case. The eight towns are Char Suddah, which, together
with Prang and the village of Kazeekhail, form the present Hashtnug-
gur; Ruzrr, Atmanzai, Tungee, Sheerpon, Abazai, and Nohshaira.
The district extends for about four miles along the bank of the Suwat
or Lundye river; beyond which, is the country of the powerful and
numerous tribe of Eusufzai. The inhabitants of the district are Ma-
homedzais, a branch of the great tribe of Dooranee. Irrigation depends
mostly on rain ; but the Palez, or vegetable crops, are cultivated near the
banks of the river, where water can be obtained easily: the greater ele
vation of this Tuppah above the level of the water of the Lundye,
prevents its being made use of for the purpose of irrigation at any dis
tance from the banks.