116 Major W. E. Gowan— On the '' Pamir r [Aug., 



Roslian begins beyond the Tower of Darband. It is a dependency 

 of Shighnan and is ruled by Yusuf Ali Khan, Three miles below the 

 junction of the Murghab and Pianja and on the right bank of the latter 

 river is Wamar the chief town of Roshan. It is in a very flourishing 

 condition, and the soil around is very fruitful. Roshan is divided into 

 three circles : 1, Wamar, which lies on the right bank and embraces the 

 upper portion of the Oxus valley, and contains about 800 houses ; 2, 

 Pa-i-Khoja^ which lies on the left bank of the Oxus, below the place 

 where that river takes a bend to the west. It is distant from the 

 Wamar circle a day's journey. It contains about 1000 houses, and its 

 inhabitants are Khojas or descendants of Saiyads ; they pay no taxes 

 but are liable to military service in time of war ; 3, Bartang, a province 

 on a river of the same name. Five miles beyond Pigish on the right 

 bank of the Pianja is the frontier village of Bar-Roshan. One day's 

 journey beyond this again, and also on the right bank of the same 

 river, is Vaznud the frontier village of Darwaz. Five marches from 

 Vaznud is Kila-Khumb the chief town of Darwaz. The boundary 

 between Shighnan and Darwaz is the water-shed lying at the head of 

 the Wamar valley. 



Beyond Darwaz it is said that the Khotlan country begins, the chief 

 town of which is Kuliab. 



Of Karatigen, which lies north of Darwaz, we have only hearsay 

 information. It is comprised in the valley of the Surkhab and its 

 sources, and is held to be perfectly independent. Once only was it 

 subdued by the Olai- Kirghiz (Black Kirghiz) who nomadize on the 

 slopes of the Kokan mountains. But the raiders were soon driven out, 

 and since then the Karatigens have owned allegiance to none. Garm is 

 the chief town of Karatigen. The villages, most of which are small, are 

 scattered in separate groups over the Surkhab valley. Each has its own 

 Beo", and bears the name of that village in which the Beg resides. 

 The natural products are iron and rock salt, and also gold. 



To the south of Karatigen and to the south-west of Darwaz lie 

 Hissar and Kuliab. According to the information gained by the 

 Hissar Expedition, Hissar is now divided into 7 Begships and Kuliab 

 into two. The Hissar Begships are Shirabad, Baisun, Denan, Yurtch- 

 misk, Hissar, Kurgan-Tube, and Kobadian. Kuliab comprises those 

 of Baljuan and Kuliab, and also the amliakdars of Darband, Ssar-i-Iui, 

 and Faizabad, who are appointed by the Amir himself. The amliakdars 

 of the towns and villages are nominated by the Begs. Hissar and 

 Kuliab produce in abundance all the sorts of grain and garden 

 growth that are peculiar to Central Asia. Cotton is cultivated in 

 large quantities only in the Begship of Shirabad because it is pos- 



