^^™" 



132 



An Account of Ujyjper Kdsh-kar. 



[No. 2, 



main branch of the Oxus takes its rise ; for the Talab-i-Nil lies much 

 further to the south. The river of Kash-kar flows from it, and having 

 passed Mas-tuch on the west, flows towards the south and south-west 

 through the two states of Kash-kar, and joins the Kamah or Kunar 

 at Cheghan-sarae, as before stated. The existence of this lake was 

 mentioned to Lieut. Wood by natives of Badakhshan, and it is also 

 corroborated by the account of Moorcroft and Trebeck, # who call the 

 lake by the name of Hamu-sar ; but which, if it is a Persian name as 

 it appears to be, would rather seem to refer to that of " Sir-i-kol " the 

 source of the Oxus, and then, interpreted, would signify the " Head 

 or Source of the Hanm," which latter word, in all probability, is more 

 correctly Amu, (j<*>\ ) the name by which the Oxus is known to the 

 natives of these regions. 



North of Mas-tuch all the streams take a northerly course towards 

 the Oxus and the river of Yarkand ; whilst those south of Mas-tuch 

 run towards the south, and are, ultimately, absorbed into the Indus. 



From Upper Kashkar, the road to Gilgitt lies to the south, south- 

 east ; and that place is seven stages distant. From thence, pursuing 

 a westerly route, Little Thibet is reached in another seven stages. 

 The Kashmir route lies to the south of Thibet, and is distant about 

 eight stages. 



The dress of the people of Upper and Lower Kash-kar, from the 

 severe nature of the climate of the country, consists of a number of 

 garments worn one over the other. They are made with immense 

 sleeves ; and, when on, lie in a number of folds or rolls. The dresses 

 of the women are made longer and more loose than those of the men, 

 and assimilate, in some measure, to the dress worn by the *females of 

 Kashmir. 



The men are tall and well made ; and the females are remarkable for 

 their beauty ,f which is said to surpass that of the Si'ah-posh women, 



* " Westward from Gilgit is Chitral, distinguished as Upper and Lower. The 

 latter, which is nearest to the Hindu Kush, is situated on a river flowing from a 

 lake called Hamu-sar, and ultimately falling into the river of Kabul."— Moor- 

 croft AND TREBECK. 



t " Close to (xand'hamadana, along the banks of the Apara Gandica, or 

 western Gandica, is the country of the Cetu-mala, 34,000 Yojanas in length, 

 and 32,000 broad. The Cetu-malas are mighty in deeds, strong, and powerful, 

 the women bright like the Lotus flower : and whoever sees them, falls in love 

 with them."— Wilford, on the Sacred Isles of the West : Asiatic Researches 

 Vol. VII., page 359. 



