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CHAPTER 11 
Goran and Shugnan. 
At Ishkashim the Påndsh river changes its direction and 
makes a bend toward the north. The southern portion of 
the country through which it flows is known as Goran, the 
more northern, Shugnan. Our way led in September—Oc- 
tober to Chorock, a village near the outlet of the Gund into 
the Pandsh. Here we went into winter quarters. The northern 
section of the Pändsh valley, as far as Kala-i-Wamar in 
Roshan, we have only seen at Christmas time, 1898, when 
everything was covered with deep snow. 
The following remarks apply only to the Pandsh valley 
from Ishkashim to Chorock, a distance a little under 100 km. 
My notes are scanty and insufficient, for the journey — I was 
alone on this stretch, — was made in haste and the autumn 
was well advanced. 
Between Ishkashim, where the Hindu-Kush chain turns 
off toward the south, and Chorock, which lies 2047 mètres 
above sea-level, the Pändsh river falls 702 m per 100 km. 
The fall is here more than twice the fall between Lan- 
garkish and Ishkashim, and, following the river, one is im- 
mediately aware that the stream is far swifter than in Wak- 
han. Most of the way here are rapids churning and foaming 
along between high, precipitous wall of rock. The valley, 
which according to OLUFSEN is about 2,500 métres deep, is 
rather broad in the south but becomes very narrow toward 
the north. Here and there in the southern part thickets are 
seen, but no drifting-sand. Passage was often difficult, the 
paths were narrow, leading up and down steep slopes. North 
of Anderab it was either necessary to cross a high steep pass, 
— this was the only way for the horses, — or let one’s self 
down through an aperture between a fallen boulder and the 
mountain-side, and then on all-fours crawl down an almost 
perpendicular wall where cracks afforded a slight foothold, 
and the river foamed below. Since then the Russians have 
built a bridle-path. 
