National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

northern approach of the Shāhkōt pass in Swāt. However this may be, there can
be no doubt about the base being far older than the superstructure in its present
form.⁶

Against the eastern end of the base there has been added a projecting bastion-
like wall 9 feet thick and running east for over 25 feet (Fig. 10). It then turns
at right angles northward and continues for 63 feet to where it breaks off on the
precipitous rock slope. Its height at the corner is 29 feet. The whole of this
terrace or bastion is built with dressed blocks of tufa varying in size from
12 × 18 × 6 inches to 11 × 17 × 5 inches. Large uncut blocks of sandstone form
a plinth or foundation. That this mighty terrace must at one time have been
utilized for a scheme of defence is proved by a manifestly late wall which runs
from the broken northern end of the 'bastion' at a sharp angle to the precipi-
tous cliffs along the south-eastern edge of the ridge. This wall, 5 feet thick, is
roughly built with uncoursed rubble, set in mortar, and carries a loop-holed
parapet 2 feet thick.

I was unable to trace within the defences of the ridge any definite evidence of
old arrangements for storing water. I noticed on the top of the ridge between
the temple and the 'bastion' two small depressions which looked as if they might
have been utilized for that purpose; but they showed no stone lining such as
would be needed to retain water for any time. On the other hand, low down on
the north-western slope, but within the ancient line of wall, there is now to be
seen a properly constructed stone-lined tank. It was said to date from the time
when a bridle path passed here to the coal-mine below Āra. This was opened in
the year 1893, and for reasons connected with the cost of transport was aban-
doned five years later. Whether this tank took the place of an old one I could
not ascertain. By descending a steep path which leads down from the Kainthī
plateau to the rivulet in the western gorge those holding Nandana could
ordinarily secure water, or else it could be brought up by the road from the
place where the two little streams join. Hence the need of cisterns within the
fort may not have made itself felt.

It only remains for us to follow the route which the chiusa of Nandana
guarded, from the mouth of the valley below it to the Jhēlum. Bāghānwāla, a
large village appropriately called after its gardens, looks a veritable oasis at the
otherwise arid foot of the frowning hill chain rising above the riverine plain. It
is the seat of a prominent family among the great Janjūa tribe which is known