Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-27
CABUL.
PECULIARITIEs OF THE CITY-MAN.
NERs AND CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE.

n lettef from NaDul mafcn U says
1t is difficult to convey to the untrav-
eled western mind an idea of what
Cabul is like, though easy enough to
any one who has wandered as far east
as Cairo. 1t would not help the form
er class of readers to say it resembles
Bagdad, which it does, subtracting the
various Christian churches and Mo-
hammedan tombs of Bagdad and the
really handsome barracks and public
buildings which the Turks have erect
ed. In truth, all Asiatic cities have
the strongest family resemblance, and
have little to distinguish them from
one another, unless the introduction
Of foreigners as permanent residents,
or the free adoption of western ideas
by the native population, has revolu-
tionized the native idea of comfort
and convenience. Cabul is yet free
| from either of these elements Of change
and improvements and remains to this
day Just what we may suppose it to
have been in the days when Timour
Shah first made it his capital. In its
general aspect it is mere conglome-
ration of mud walls and houses, and
most Of the latter Of the meanest class,
but all constructed with Il view to
privacy and concealmcnt, rs is usual
in Mohammedan countries. 1t is per-
mcated by filthy and narrow lanes,
which at this season are ankle-deep in
mud and snowy slush, and are always
the natural resting place for such filth
and refuse rs the inhabitants, who are
not very nice, find too offensive to re-
tain within their own walls. .Cabul is
an unwaled town, but the want of
walls is supplied to some extent by the
style in which the outlying houses are
generally built-namely, with blank
outer walls enclosing open courtyards,
round which the rooms occupied by
the family find place. The ambition
of the lower classes is satisfied with
single story only, but the better classes
always have n second story and each
house then becomes regular fortress.
\ more undesirable town, chiefly for
/ this reason, and from the narrowness
and intricacy Of its lanes, for troops
to have to act in, it would be impossi
bic to find. The roofs of the houses
are all flat, and of mud, and generally
made private by parapet 3 feet or !
feet high round the outer circumfer-
ence. This gives strange uniformity
of appearance TO the town when view
ed from the hills above, and impresses
I the observer with the little effect which
would be produced upon the place by
artillery fire from however advantage
Gus position.
There are two exceptions to the gen
orally tortuous character of the Cabul
streets, and they are to be found in the
part devoted to business. The first
of these is the Shor Bazaar, n long
straight street running nearly east and
west, and dividing the city into two
unequal parts. This bazaar is devot-
ed TO the sale of every description of
articles of luxury, from the silks and
finery of the Zenana to the China tea
cups which are such an indispensable
appendage to even the most modest
Afghan household. The wares are ex-
| hibited, in the fashion common to the
/ East, in n narrow veranda, elevated
about three feet above the level of the
street, with perhaps n scarcely larg-
or enclosed space behind, where the
bulkier articles are stored. The own
ers of the shops sit cross-legged on the
/ ground, with pan of hot Goals at
this season to keep life in their fingers
and toes and it is popularity with
them that they show no eagerness
whatever to sell their wares, such as
is generally observable in eastern
bazaars, where supposed customer is
sometimes almost torn in pieces by
rival dealers F.; but after quietly ex-
hibiting any article demanded, and
asking for it an obviously ridiculous
price, they return it to its shelf with
out a word of remark or a hint at
abatement, and are quite Indifferent if
the customer betake himself straight
way to the adjoining rival shop. Each
of these shops is closed at the approach
of evening by rude wooden shutters,
and the occupant betakes himself, with
anything peculiarly valuable and port
able, to his private residence in one of
the retired lanes of the city. The Shor
Bazaar is roughly covered in with
mud roof, supported on wooden up
rights, so constructed as to leave plen-
ty of light and air, and yet to protect
the crowded and narrow thoroughfare
from rain or snow. The other large
thoroughfare of Cabul is what is call
ed Char Chowk, or Bazaar of the Four
Squares, from the four quadrangular
spaces through which the main line
of the street runs. The short streets
which connect these quadrangles are