'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎32] (165/458)

32 LIEUTENANT H. O. RAVERTY
ed small fields of cotton, the inhabitants merely cultivating a sufficient
quantity for their own consumption. The cultivation appeared scanty,
and the country was almost destitute of tress. The wild “Ber” tree
appeared in several places, but never exceeding six or eight feet in
height, and its fruit was bitter and unpleasant to the taste. We crossed
the dry beds of two mountain-streams. Toru, so called by the Peshawur-
ees, but properly Tola, which means a concourse of people assembled in
one place, is inhabited by the Mashranzai branch of the Eusufzais.
It consists of three villages, within half a mile of each other, and alto
gether contains 5,000 people. There is a Bazar in each of the villages,
the shopkeepers of which are Hindus, and a few of the Parancha class,
who sell cloth, linen, &c. To the north of the town is the dry bed of a
river, here called the Lundye ; which, in AfFghanee, means a mountain
stream :its proper name is Nalah-i-Hind. It was dry at this time, but
comes down with great force in the hot season—so the people said.
The revenue is 17,000 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , which they say is too much, and more
than they can afford to pay.
The country between Toru and Hamzah Khan, the next halting-
place, was similar in appearance to that passed through on the previous
day, and mountains rose on three sides. The towns of Ootey and
Mardan lay in our route, about a mile from each other, on the right and
left of our road. The town of Ootey, which is almost close to the road,
contains 2,500 people, and Mardan 2,000. They are held by Meer
Afzal Khan, the Arbabor Chief of Toru ; and yield a revenue of 11,000
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . After passing these, we came to the small village of Fatima,
which belongs to the town of Ootey. The ground continued to slope
towards the north, and trees were numerous. Two ranges of mountains
rose to the north, and on the east low hills ran in a south-west direction.
Hamzah Khan is a small village, surrounded by a deep trench, and
contains 150 people, consisting of Suyeds, Fackeers, and a few persons
of the Meeankhail tribe. They may have fields at a distance, but there
was no sign of cultivation near it. The mountain of Kathamar, near a
village, to the East of which is a stone or slab, called by the name of the
“ Sang * i-N e wishtah,” or the “ Inscribed Stone,” is distant from this
village about 12 miles to the East : a hollow near the top of the moun
tain is also plainly visible to the naked eye. The character written
on this “stone” is unknown, but supposed to be Greek. I had asked
for leave of absence once or twice, during my stay at Peshawur, for the
purpose of visiting this and other interesting places, but the authori-