But Though I Prefer Sir H. Yule's
Route From Badakhshan, By The River Vardoj, The Pass Of Ishkashm, The
Panja, To Wakhan, I Do Not Accept His Views For The Itinerary From Wakhan
To Kashgar; See P. 175.
- H. C.]
The river along which Marco travels from Badakhshan is no doubt the upper
stream of the Oxus, known locally as the Panja, along which Wood also
travelled, followed of late by the Mirza and Faiz Bakhsh. It is true that
the river is reached from Badaskhshan Proper by ascending another river
(the Vardoj) and crossing the Pass of Ishkashm, but in the brief style of
our narrative we must expect such condensation.
WAKHAN was restored to geography by Macartney, in the able map which he
compiled for Elphinstone's Caubul, and was made known more accurately by
Wood's journey through it. [The district of Wakhan "comprises the valleys
containing the two heads of the Panjah branch of the Oxus, and the valley
of the Panjah itself, from the junction at Zung down to Ishkashim. The
northern branch of the Panjah has its principal source in the Lake
Victoria in the Great Pamir, which as well as the Little Pamir, belongs to
Wakhan, the Aktash River forming the well recognized boundary between
Kashgaria and Wakhan." (Captain Trotter, Forsyth's Mission, p. 275.) The
southern branch is the Sarhadd Valley. - H. C.] The lowest part is about
8000 feet above the sea, and the highest Kishlak, or village, about
11,500. A few willows and poplars are the only trees that can stand
against the bitter blasts that blow down the valley. Wood estimated the
total population of the province at only 1000 souls, though it might be
capable of supporting 5000.[1] He saw it, however, in the depth of winter.
As to the peculiar language, see note I, ch. xxix. It is said to be a very
old dialect of Persian. A scanty vocabulary was collected by Hayward. (J.
R. G. S. XXI. p. 29.) The people, according to Shaw, have Aryan features,
resembling those of the Kashmiris, but harsher.
[Cf. Captain Trotter's The Oxus below Wakhan, Forsyth's Mission, p.
276.]
We appear to see in the indications of this paragraph precisely the same
system of government that now prevails in the Oxus valleys. The central
districts of Faizabad and Jerm are under the immediate administration of
the Mir of Badakhshan, whilst fifteen other districts, such as Kishm,
Rustak, Zebak, Ishkashm, Wakhan, are dependencies "held by the relations
of the Mir, or by hereditary rulers, on a feudal tenure, conditional on
fidelity and military service in time of need, the holders possessing
supreme authority in their respective territories, and paying little or no
tribute to the paramount power." (Pandit Manphul.) The first part of the
valley of which Marco speaks as belonging to a brother of the Prince, may
correspond to Ishkashm, or perhaps to Vardoj; the second, Wakhan, seems to
have had a hereditary ruler; but both were vassals of the Prince of
Badakhshan, and therefore are styled Counts, not kings or Seigneurs.
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