1 LAV—LE, 21
2 this fort impregnable, it being inaccessible on the side of the cliff,
3 and rendered difficult of approach on the north and west by deep
4 ravines. It could, however, be stormed from the south, and is
5 so slenderly built that it might easily be destroyed" by shells ; or
6 the whole might be overthrown by exploding a mine under the
7 cliff. Shah Pussund, the Ishaukzye chief, obtained this fort
8 by stratagem from Shah Kamran, of Herat, who has made re-
9 peated attempts to regain possession of it; these have hitherto
10 been fruitless, but the failure of native attacks affords no ground
11 for concluding it to be proof against the resources of European
12 skill and science. The surrounding district, called Hak, is
13 remarkably fertile and well watered, but has been miserably
14 devastated by the frequent inroads made by the troops of Herat.
15 Laush is in lat. 31° 51’, long. 61° 46’.
16 LAVOR, in Afghanistan, a village in the district of Booneere, E.1.C. Ms. Doc.
17 twenty miles north of the junction of the Kabool river With the
18 Indus, in lat. 34° 12’, long. 72° 18’.
19 LE,} in Ladakh, or Middle Tibet, of which it is the capital, is t vigne, Kashmir,
20 situated about two miles from the right or northern bank of the ae ake aad
21 Indus, here called Sin-kha-bab. A narrow sandy plain stretches March, 1825, p.
22 between the river and a chain of mountains, which rise on the 107% Tzet Ullah,
23 ¥ Travels beyond
24 north about two thousand feet, and on this level space the town is the Himalaya;
25 A % Moorcr. Pun}.
26 built. It is enclosed by a wall surmounted at intervals with Boun. i. 315;
27 conical or square towers, and extending on each side to the summit ceearn
28 of the mountains. The streets are very irregular and intricate ; in Gholaum Hyder.
29 many places they are covered over. The houses varying in height
30 from one to three stories, and in some instances extending to
31 more, are built partly of stone, partly of unburned brick ; being
32 whitewashed, they havea lively appearance. They generally have
33 wooden balconies in front, The roofs are flat and ill-constructed of
34 the trunks of poplars, covered with a layer of willow twigs, and this
35 with another of straw, a coat of mud overlaying the whole, which
36 at last constitutes a very insufficient defence against rain. The
37 walls taper as they rise, so that the outer surface slopes inwards.
38 The rain and cold are very imperfectly excluded by wooden
39 shutters, or strong curtains drawn across the windows. There
40 are no chimneys, and the wood-smoke is consequently offensive
41 and suffocating, often producing severe and permanent injury to
42 the eyes, The furniture is very rude, and withal very scanty. The
43 floor sometimes serves for bed, chair, and table, while sheep, goats,