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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 11, p. 202.

202 DAUR Frontier Province, lying between 32° 50′ and 33° N. and 69° 55′ and 70° 25′ E. The valley lies on the banks of the Tochi, extending from the point where that river leaves the Wazir hills to where it re-enters them near Khajuri, about 15 miles from the western border of Bannu District. Daur is thus entirely surrounded by the Wazir hills, the highest peak in it being Vezhda (7,700 feet). Its length is 35 miles and its breadth averages i Z miles, but it widens to 5 or 6 miles at its broadest part. The protected area, which extends to the crests of the hills nearest the river on both banks, measures about 700 square miles. Like most frontier valleys, it is divided into Lar or Lower and Bar or Upper Daur, the former comprising the larger area. The climate is bracing and healthy in the cold season, but malarious and unhealthy in the hot months, especially in August and September. The annual rainfall probably exceeds 15 inches. Of the ancient history of Daur nothing is known. A mound near Idak is said to mark the site of its ancient capital. In 17oo Bahadur Shah, then viceroy of Kabul, passed through the valley on his way from hhost 1:o Bannu after effecting an arrangement with the tribes; but on his return in the following year his forces were repulsed, and he was compelled to pay heavy sums to secure an unopposed passage. Even- tually Daur fell nominally under Durrani. rule; but it remained virtu- ally independent till 1893, when by the treaty with the Amir of Afghanistan it came within the British sphere of influence, the actual boundary being demarcated in 1895. While the Demarcation Com- missioner was in Daur, the people petitioned that the whole valley should be taken over by the British Government, in order to pro- tect them against the raids of their neighbours, the Wazirs and Mahsuds. Daur contains about 75 walled hamlets. Its resident population in 1903 was 24,670. These are mostly Dauris, a race of `gross satyr-like spadesmen;' morally the lowest of the Afghan races. Other Afghan tribes despise the Dauris, whom they describe as the progeny of a Ban- nuchi father and a Dum or low-caste mother. The Dauris are diligent, hardworking, and patient cultivators, developed physically by the use of the spade, the plough being useless in the heavy alluvial soil of the valley ; but, though fanatical, they are unwarlike. Their neighbours, despite frequent efforts, were never able to oust them from their valley, though the Wazirs have established small settlements wherever they could get a foothold, and hold a large area in proportion to their numbers. Of the resident population, 2 r,ooo are agriculturists and entirely dependent on the soil, the pressure on which is heavy. The lands of the valley are extremely rich, and grow heavy crops of maize, rice, millet, sugar-cane, wheat, and barley. The growth of trees is only now beginning, but promises well. Mulberry, chandr, willow, and fruit trees do best. There is a fairly extensive weaving industry,