Chapter KHOTI to KHYBER PASS of K by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

KHYBER PASS, n.p. The famous gorge which forms the chief gate of Afghanistan from Peshawar, properly Khaibar. [The place of the same name near Al-Madinah is mentioned in the Ain (iii. 57), and Sir R. Burton writes: “Khaybar in Hebrew is supposed to mean a castle. D’Herbelot makes it to mean a pact or association of the Jews against the Moslems.” (Pilgrimage, ed. 1893, i. 346, note).]

1519.—“Early next morning we set out on our march, and crossing the Kheiber Pass, halted at the foot of it. The Khizer-Khail had been extremely licentious in their conduct. Both on the coming and going of our army they had shot upon the stragglers, and such of our people as lagged behind, or separated from the rest, and carried off their horses. It was clearly expedient that they should meet with a suitable chastisement.”—Baber, p. 277.

1603.—

“On Thursday Jamrúd was our encamping ground.

“On Friday we went through the Khaibar Pass, and encamped at ’Alí Musjid.”—Jahángír, in Elliot, vi. 314.

1783.—“The stage from Timrood (read Jimrood) to Dickah, usually called the Hyber-pass, being the only one in which much danger is to be apprehended from banditti, the officer of the escort gave orders to his party to … march early on the next morning. … Timur Shah, who used to pass the winter at Peshour … never passed through the territory of the Hybers, without their attacking his advanced or rear guard.”—Forster’s Travels, ed. 1808, ii. 65–66.

1856.—

“… See the booted Moguls, like a pack
Of hungry wolves, burst from their desert lair,
And crowding through the Khyber’s rocky strait,
Sweep like a bloody harrow o'er the land.”

The Banyan Tree, p. 6.

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