A frontier fort, 1878 (c)

Photograph, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1878 (c).

This view depicts the typical type of fort found in many of the frontier regions and in Afghanistan itself. Most were built of sun-dried mud blocks and were rectangular in shape with a tower at each corner, placed so as to provide a clear line of fire along the lengths of the fort walls. On the inside, about five feet from the top of the walls was a platform about 10 feet wide. This ran around the perimeter of the fort and formed the roof of the living quarters below. The walls had loopholes and the towers had slits for firing.

From album of 46 photographs, 1880. Associated with Sir F S Roberts, Commissariat Department.