[3] According to Colonel Tod, the Hindu bard Chand speaks of "Pamer, chief
of mountains." (I. p. 24.) But one may like and respect Colonel Tod
without feeling able to rely on such quotations of his unconfirmed.
[4] Usually written Polii, which is nonsense.
[5] ["The Tian Shan wild sheep has since been described as the Ovis
Karelini, a species somewhat smaller than the true Ovis Poli which
frequents the Pamirs." (Colonel Gordon, Roof of the World, p. 83,
note.) - H. C.]
CHAPTER XXXIII.
OF THE KINGDOM OF CASCAR.
[Illustration: Head of a Native of Kashgar]
Cascar is a region lying between north-east and east, and constituted a
kingdom in former days, but now it is subject to the Great Kaan. The
people worship Mahommet. There are a good number of towns and villages,
but the greatest and finest is Cascar itself. The inhabitants live by
trade and handicrafts; they have beautiful gardens and vineyards, and fine
estates, and grow a great deal of cotton. From this country many merchants
go forth about the world on trading journeys. The natives are a wretched,
niggardly set of people; they eat and drink in miserable fashion. There
are in the country many Nestorian Christians, who have churches of their
own. The people of the country have a peculiar language, and the territory
extends for five days' journey.[NOTE 1]
