The weekly clarion., 1880-05-12
KABUL.
Blackwood Magazine. ]

/ Blackwood Magazine.
4 city built among a wilderness of
/ heights and mountains Is kabul, and far
as its stately river has TO travel before
pouring its waters into the Indus, no.
/ where does it visit a fairer scene than
where. not very far from its source, 1t
passes through the quaint old town,
washing and at certain seasons threat
ening. the foundations OF the houses
and fortilice-like Enclosures which hang
over 1t. Within the city all Is delight
fully Oriental, picturesque, and irregu-
lar-just such as the author OF 10
them would revel in, the open air life
OF more genial Eastern climes going on
In full force, Notwithstanding the cold,
which compels, however, shop-keepers
Of the better class to draw blankets over
their limbs, and kindle fires seemingly
right in the middle Of their wares.
Different sets Of tradesmen and artl-
sans have each their own quarters, or,
as it Is called in the East, muhalla.
Here a savorv smell Of roast meat, and
piles Of hot unleavened bread, where
auv number of cooks are ready to feed
the hungry at a mere trifie head, with
out giving them the trouble Of stepping
aside from the public way, far less OF
sitting down at a table. Windows or
front walls there are none in these al
frescO restaurants; and blocks of yellow
butter, frozen into the cOnslstenee OF
cheese. hung out of them almost into the
street. Then the traveller, seated with
kababs, may find over the way broth
erhood Of fruiterers, whose tasteful and
Il af
apples and grapes form even at this sea-
son one of the bright features of Ka-
buI. So with the sellers Of horse-gear,
a numerous and flourishing guild appar-
entlv-the making and members of
shoes, the tailors, the furries, carpenters,
armorers. BARRIERS, and workers In gold,
silver. and other metaIs-the whole rep
resenting Il hive Of industry and focus
of money-making such as British intro
mission and Islamite iTrupti0ns seem
alike powerless to disturb. Some of the
streets have a shed or partial roof set
over them, letting in only the suns OBJ
lique rays, and excluding, doubtles, a
cerain amount Of rain and snow. In
spite of this however, the thorough
fares, which are the merest lanes IN
point Of breadth, are at this season deep
in mud and half-frozen water, with the
most rudimentary elements of scaven-
gering or road conservancy having
sprung up as vet in kabul.
Toward afternoon, the tide of human
traffic in strong. Tartar-looking Khans,
mounted on stout nags, and followed by
retainers, have to make head as best
they can against, perhaps, line of
Bullhara camels laden with merchan-
disc, but Notwithstanding the incessant
jostle, all is good humor and give and
take. Happily there are no gin pala-
ces. Neither has kabui any work
houses or poor rates. No sooner has the
keeper Of a tea shop heated his urn,
and filed his prettily-painted cups, than
crowds Of sturdy beggars, and gaber
lunzics in the highest degree picturesque,
assaiI him as courageously as if every
one Of them had money in his hand, in
stead of only patched garment on his
back, and features blue with cold; and
kabul mendicants not even Bundle
could deal with on other than their own
terms.