1894.] Lieutenant J. A. Douglas — Nole on Clvilds traditions. G7 



The following papers wer'e read : — 



1. Notes on Childs traditions. — By Lieutenant J, A. Douglas. 

 Communicated hy the Philological Secketary. 



The only connected traditions now cnrrent in tlie Cliilas neighbour- 

 hood, date back no further than the invasion of the country by the Shins. 

 Before this everything is asci^ibed to " Devs " deities, of whom little 

 more than the names survive. Narun was the original founder of 

 Chilas, and Taiban is said to have founded Gor. The Shins of Chilas 

 trace tlieir origin back to Eana Das, a son of the Rajah of Pakli, Avho 

 invaded Chilas some 500 years ago.* At that time the whole of 

 Shinkarl was governed by a king spoken of as Chachai Ra. After some 

 fighting, Chachai Ra was defeated; he himself, all his family, and many 

 of his followers were killed, and Rana Das ruled the country — Rana D;is 

 was a Hindu. On bis death the people refused to elect a new king, and 

 from that time Chilas has been a republic. 



Rana Das left two sons, Bhoto and Machuk, and from them sprang 

 two tribes, the Bhote and Machukai. 



The last event of which there is any record is the quarrel between 

 the Bhote and Machukai, which has already been referred to by both 

 Col. Biddulph and Dr. Leitner. The Machukai were expelled from the 

 country and migrated to Hunza, Astor, and other places in the neigh- 

 boui'hood. This is said to have taken place 200 to 2.50 years a2:o. 



A little later (7 generations, perhaps 200 years ago), the first intro- 

 duction of Muhammadanism into the country took place. This was 

 effected by Shiih Zaman, a Saiad from Kagan, and an ancestor of the 

 present Kagani Saiads. He entei'ed Chilas with an army, and, presum- 

 ably by force of arms, converted the inhabitants. They say that after 

 this they gave up burning their dead, though it is probable that 

 the custom lingered for some years later. Shah Zaman with his own 

 hand laid the foundation stone of a new fort into which the people 

 moved. And which they continued to inhabit until it was taken and 

 destroyed by the Kashmir army in 1851. As an instance of their jDros- 

 perity at this period, they relate that Chilas contained 500 weavers. 

 For many years after this the Chilasis paid tribute to Kagcin, and the 

 people of Bunar do so still. 



The next invasion of the country, was by Shaikh Amanu'd-din 

 Hakim of Kashmir, under Ranjit Singh. He was driven out after 18 

 days fighting. Shortly afterwards, in 1851, the army sent from Kash- 



* My iuformant, nii old man of about 70. gave me bis pedigree back to Rana 

 Das. This included 17 names, but he himself said it was 20 generations ago, which, 

 at 25 years to a generation, would be 500 years. 



