The kind mentioned by Marco and Burnes
is probably that named by Royle Hordeum Aegiceras, and which has been
sent to England under the name of Tartarian Wheat, though it is a genuine
barley. Naked barley is mentioned by Galen as grown in Cappadocia; and
Matthioli speaks of it as grown in France in his day (middle of 16th
century). It is also known to the Arabs, for they have a name for it -
Sult. (Burnes, III. 205; Moorc. II. 148 seqq.; Galen, de Aliment.
Facult. Lat. ed. 13; Matthioli, Ven. 1585, p. 420; Eng. Cyc., art.
Hordeum.)
Sesame is mentioned by P. Manphul as one of the products of Badakhshan;
linseed is another, which is also used for oil. Walnut-trees abound, but
neither he nor Wood mention the oil. We know that walnut oil is largely
manufactured in Kashmir. (Moorcroft, II. 148.)
[See on Saker and Lanner Falcons (F. Sakar, Briss.; F. lanarius,
Schlegel) the valuable paper by Edouard Blanc, Sur l'utilisation des
Oiseaux de proie en Asie centrale in Rev. des Sciences natur.
appliquees, 20th June, 1895.
"Hawking is the favourite sport of Central Asian Lords," says G. Capus.
(A travers le royaume de Tamerlan, p. 132. See pp. 132-134.)
The Mirza says (l.c. p. 157) that the mountains of Wakhan "are only noted
for producing a breed of hawks or falcons which the hardy Wakhanis manage
to catch among the cliffs. These hawks are much esteemed by the chiefs of
Badakhshan, Bokhara, etc. They are celebrated for their swiftness, and
known by their white colour." - H. C.]
NOTE 6. - These wild sheep are probably the kind called Kachkar,
mentioned by Baber, and described by Mr. Blyth in his Monograph of Wild
Sheep, under the name of Ovis Vignei. It is extensively diffused over
all the ramifications of Hindu-Kush, and westward perhaps to the Persian
Elburz. "It is gregarious," says Wood, "congregating in herds of several
hundreds." In a later chapter Polo speaks of a wild sheep apparently
different and greater. (See J. A. S. B., X. 858 seqq.)
NOTE 7. - This pleasant passage is only in Ramusio, but it would be heresy
to doubt its genuine character. Marco's recollection of the delight of
convalescence in such a climate seems to lend an unusual enthusiasm and
felicity to his description of the scenery. Such a region as he speaks of
is probably the cool Plateau of Shewa, of which we are told as extending
about 25 miles eastward from near Faizabad, and forming one of the finest
pastures in Badakhshan. It contains a large lake called by the frequent
name Sar-i-Kol. No European traveller in modern times (unless Mr. Gardner)
has been on those glorious table-lands. Burnes says that at Kunduz both
natives and foreigners spoke rapturously of the vales of Badakhshan, its
rivulets, romantic scenes and glens, its fruits, flowers, and
nightingales. Wood is reticent on scenery, naturally, since nearly all his
journey was made in winter. When approaching Faizabad on his return from
the Upper Oxus, however, he says: "On entering the beautiful lawn at the
gorge of its valley I was enchanted at the quiet loveliness of the scene.
Up to this time, from the day we left Talikan, we had been moving in snow;
but now it had nearly vanished from the valley, and the fine sward was
enamelled with crocuses, daffodils, and snowdrops." (P. Manphul; Burnes,
III. 176; Wood, 252.)
NOTE 8. - Yet scarcely any country in the world has suffered so terribly
and repeatedly from invasion. "Enduring decay probably commenced with the
wars of Chinghiz, for many an instance in Eastern history shows the
permanent effect of such devastations.... Century after century saw only
progress in decay. Even to our own time the progress of depopulation and
deterioration has continued." In 1759, two of the Khojas of Kashgar,
escaping from the dominant Chinese, took refuge in Badakhshan; one died of
his wounds, the other was treacherously slain by Sultan Shah, who then
ruled the country. The holy man is said in his dying moments to have
invoked curses on Badakhshan, and prayed that it might be three times
depopulated; a malediction which found ample accomplishment. The misery of
the country came to a climax about 1830, when the Uzbek chief of Kunduz,
Murad Beg Kataghan, swept away the bulk of the inhabitants, and set them
down to die in the marshy plains of Kunduz. (Cathay, p. 542; Faiz
Bakhsh, etc.)
NOTE 9. - This "bombasticall dissimulation of their garments," as the
author of Anthropometamorphosis calls such a fashion, is no longer
affected by the ladies of Badakhshan. But a friend in the Panjab observes
that it still survives there. "There are ladies' trousers here which
might almost justify Marco's very liberal estimate of the quantity of
stuff required to make them;" and among the Afghan ladies, Dr. Bellew
says, the silken trousers almost surpass crinoline in amplitude. It is
curious to find the same characteristic attaching to female figures on
coins of ancient kings of these regions, such as Agathocles and Pantaleon.
(The last name is appropriate!)
CHAPTER XXX.
OF THE PROVINCE OF PASHAI
You must know that ten days' journey to the south of Badashan there is a
Province called PASHAI, the people of which have a peculiar language,
and are Idolaters, of a brown complexion. They are great adepts in
sorceries and the diabolic arts. The men wear earrings and brooches of
gold and silver set with stones and pearls. They are a pestilent people
and a crafty; and they live upon flesh and rice. Their country is very
hot.[NOTE 1]
Now let us proceed and speak of another country which is seven days'
journey from this one towards the south-east, and the name of which is
KESHIMUR.
NOTE 1. - The name of PASHAI has already occurred (see ch. xviii.) linked
with DIR, as indicating a tract, apparently of very rugged and difficult
character, through which the partizan leader Nigudar passed in making an
incursion from Badakhshan towards Kashmir.
