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CHAP. VIII.] REVENUE, MILITARY SERVICE.
177
(chiefly on Fridays), hawking, cock and quail fighting, wrest-
ling, drawing of the bow, combats with clubs, and other
athletic exercises ; besides various kinds of hunting, in which
the hyena is successfully employed, after being boldly and
adroitly secured.
The revenue is derived from customs and other duties, and Revenue,
from commutations paid by particular districts, instead of
sending troops. Provisions are supplied to the royal house
hold, and to the troops when in motion; but the principal
source of revenue is the land, which is assessed by fixed pro
portions on the produce. The total amount of the king's
income is estimated at about three millions sterling, scarcely
two-thirds of which are paid. 1 The principal expenditure is
for the maintenance of the royal harem and household, the
officers of state, the Mullas, and the army.
The Gholams, Kuzzilbaches, and Shahenchees, or camel Military force,
artillery, make up a permanent force of about 13,000 men,
in addition to 12,000 which are furnished by the Durrani
tribes in return for their lands. Some of the other contin
gents, chiefly of infantry, are furnished, in time of war, by
the owners of lands elsewhere. A kind of militia, and a
force called Dowstullub, are raised for the campaign, at a
fixed price of 10Z. per man; and, finally, a general rising,
called Ooloosse, is resorted to in case of invasion. 2
These feeble and uncertain means of defence have been
superseded by a regular force, organized and commanded by and its
British officers, which, in time, may produce the necessary orgamzatU)n
stability, should his present majesty take advantage of his
favourable position to form a wise system of government;
and, if such were suited to the ancient institutions and
prejudices of his warlike and unmanageable subjects, the latter
might at length be induced to submit to regulations which
would promote the welfare of the country.
The preceding description relates more particularly to
Afghanistan Proper, and we now proceed to notice the
southern portion of the kingdom of Kabul, or the different
provinces forming the adjoining confederation.
1 Elphinstone's Kabul, p. 251. 2 Ibid., p. 530 and following.
VOL. I. 2 A