1 328 JOURNEY TO KASHMIR [ PART III.
2 tops of the hills upon our foremost cattle. A
3 few men with muskets sent up to the summit
4 caused them to disappear, ami we met with
5 uo further obstruction until we reached Akora,
6 the capital of the district, a town of some ex¬
7 tent, surrounded by a mud wall, and situated
8 on the southern bank of the river of Kabul.
9 On our approach a large crowd was observed
10 near the gate, leaving the way clear for us to
11 enter ; but feeling ill-assured of the prudence
12 of trusting ourselves within the place, wc
13 made a detour round it, and encamped at
14 some distance to the west. We were soon
15 surrounded by a number of spectators, includ¬
16 ing many armed horsemen, who frequently
17 gave us welcome with the cry of u Khush
18 amileli aid, mulk-i shuma ast,” at the same
19 time riding round us en caracole, brandishing
20 long spears, and firing matchlocks. No Ab¬
21 bas Khan made his appearance, although we
22 knew he had returned to his house. His
23 Naib, or deputy, came in his stead, who inti¬
24 mated some expectation of our paying duties,
25 Or a commutation of them, to the amount of
26 ten or twelve thousand rupees: he forbore,
27 however, to press the subject, and after his