1 3 Irvin, ix. 43.
2 5 470.
3 100 PESHAWER.
4 tivated with much success. Many of them are of the kinds known in
5 England—carrots, turnips, radishes, cabbages, cauliflowers, onions;
6 others are there of common occurrence in India. As a substitute
7 for hay, corn and certain green crops are cut before ripe and dried
8 for fodder. Barley, and sometimes wheat, are cut before they
9 form ears and used for this purpose, and this treatment does not
10 injure the crop. What is called here paulaiz, is a very important
11 portion of the crop, and comprises musk-melons, water-melons,
12 scented-melons, and various kinds of cucumbers, pumpkins, and
13 gourds, produced in the greatest luxuriance, and consumed in the
14 hot season in large quantities. The castor-oil-plantis cultivated :
15 the oil, however, is not intended for culinary or medicinal pur-
16 poses, but for any other in which a coarse oil may be required.
17 Sesamum, mustard, and some other plants are reared for the sake
18 of their oil. The sugar-canc is raised to be consumed as a sweet-
19 meat; sugar itself being obtained from Hindostan. Ginger,
20 turmeric, tobacco, and cotton, are also extensively cultivated. The
21 ground is moved by the plough, the spade being little employed.
22 Scythes are’ unknown, and crops of all kinds are cut with sickles.
23 Oxen are wsed for ploughing, harrowing, and treading out the
24 corn. Mulberry-trees abound, and silk is produced in moderate
25 quantities. The principal fruits are plums, figs, peaches, pome-
26 granates, mulberries, and quinces ; but, though large, all except the
27 last have an inferior flavour.5 The quince of Peshawer is the only
28 fruit that can lay claim to excellence, and it is said to surpass
29 those of all other countries.
30 Elphinstone, who entered the country in March from the great
31 defile, through which the route from the south passes, describes
32 the scene formed by the mountains, crowned with eternal snow,
33 surrounding the luxu.iant and picturesque plain, as at once grand
34 and beautiful in the highest degree, and he found that a nearer
35 survey increased his admiration. At the time of Elphinstone’s
36 visit, the population was sd dense that thirty-two villages were
37 counted within a circuit of four miles. It may be doubted
38 whether the impressions of the European visitors on this occasion
39 were not somewhat over sanguine, but it was their belief, ‘ that
40 never was a spot of ground better peopled.”’ An estimate formed
41 ‘with reference to their views would give about half a million as
42 the number of the inhabitants. Court ® estimates the military
43 force of the province at 40,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry. Much