1 CITADEL OF PESHAWR. 26r
2 destructive element. The fire continued burn-
3 ing for many days, and thus was destroyed the
4 palace of Shah Shuja. Owing to the frequent
5 ‘incursions of the Sikhs, and the want of re-
6 pairs, the walls of the Bala Hissar were also
7 decayed and became level with the ground in
8 the course of time. The Sikhs rebuilt the
9 citadel on taking possession of Peshawr, and
10 called it Sumeirgarh. It has been enlarged
11 and much strengthened by General Avitabile,
12 and is in complete order, with a clear space
13 all round. State prisoners are confined here,
14 and it also contains the arsenal, from which we
15 were abundantly supplied by the Maharaja’s
16 sanction with powder, ball, and other articles,
17 the Mission being provided with no stores of
18 its own to equip the levies. In a military
19 point of view the place is superior to any forts
20 in the vicinity. The treasure with our Mis-
21 sion was removed there as the only place of
22 Security, and, with the General’s permission,
23 Measures were also taken to form within it a
24 depdt of grain for our future use.*
25 * « The governor having volunteered to show us the