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INDIA

annals of the Punjab. It is, however, a most important
rade centre, and carpets, furs, skins, and clothing of
“pashmina” and of sheepskin are gathered in the
Peshawur bazaar which are not to be found elsewhere in
[ndia. Nor is the fruit of Peshawur—grapes, apples, and
“sardar” melons from Afghanistan—to be overlooked,
nor its curious speciality in cloth beflowered with patterns
in wax ; nor yet its quaint pottery—which latter, indeed,
is more quaint than beautiful. From the strategical point
of view Peshawur is on the north what Quetta is on the
south—the guardian outpost of the gates of India. No
advance into India on any intermediate line would be
possible which left these two positions untouched. But
there is a wide difference between Quetta and Peshawur
as to the manner in which this guardianship is exercised.
Quetta faces west and south, dominating all lines of approach
 from Herat, Kandahar, or Seistan equally, and
exercising a wholesome influence on the ever - restless
border tribes which lie behind her. These tribes are still
independent in the security of their mountains, but they
are cut off from participation in any scheme of amalgamation
 with an advancing foe. Peshawur dominates the
Khaibar route—the most important of all routes from
Kabul ; and, with the assistance of Rawal Pindi, also
holds the Indian ends of all possible lines of advance from
the north and north-west. But the independent border
tribes-people are here in front of our defences, ready to
assume the offensive on their own responsibility, or to
act in concert with more powerful adversaries beyond
them-—as occasion may give opportunity. The position
in Afghanistan most analogous to that held by Quetta in
Baluchistan would be Jalalabad, in the Ningrahar Valley,
near the junction of the Kunar and the Kabul rivers. So
limited is the capacity of Peshawur for the defence of the
Khaibar that it was lately reckoned impossible even to
protect that route from occupation by the Afridis when
they raided northwards from the Tirah.
From Lahore to Peshawur we have travelled 278
miles, but we have hardly changed our climate. The