1 ‘190 THE KHATAK TERRITORY.
2 of Zarah, near Naoshera, as far as Haran, on
3 the Eusafzai,frontier; and on the south is
4 bounded by Lachi and Dherian, the frontier
5 of Dour Banoo. It is a large tribe, consisting
6 of many thousand families. They were long
7 in enmity with the Sikhs, and fought many
8 battles with them. The ground is covered
9 with graves.*
10 * « After quitting it (Gidargalli) we emerged on toa
11 fine champagne country, which, however, bears but few
12 marks of cultivation—-a measure soon explained to us by
13 the thousands of tombs spread on every side. ‘These are
14 constructed with much care, and particular attention seems
15 to have been paid to preserve their individuality, each grave
16 being marked out by a row of white pebbles encircling the
17 mound, and crossed in its breadth by two or three bands of
18 the same; beneath them lie the bodies of countless num-
19 bers who have fallen in battle, and the vastness of the col-
20 lection displays the bold spirit with which the Afghans
21 opposed the encroachments of the Sikhs. Although several
22 years have elapsed since these engagements occurred, the
23 same spirit of animosity still exists between the two na-
24 tions; but from the circumstance of the Maharaja having
25 obtained the entire ascendancy of the country, nothing
26 beyond a solitary assassination is now heard of unless when
27 the hill-tribes of the Khataks descend from their fastnesses
28 for the purpose of plundering an escort, and then a partial
29 affray issometimes brought about.”— Barr's Journal, p. 201.