140 



An Account of Upper Kdsh-Mr. 



[No. 2, 



There are a number of iron mines throughout Panj-korah, from 

 which all the neighbouring countries are supplied. Some are situated 

 in the Las-piir mountains, and in the neighbouring hills of Birah-wol 

 but the most extensive mines are in the Aw-shiri and Karah darahs. 

 In fact the whole of the Panj-korah district teems with iron and 

 galena (called swrmah or black antimony by the Afghans), and there 

 is no doubt but that it contains other even more valuable minerals. 



Great quantities of yellow soap are made from the fat of sheep and 

 goats, at the village of Ghana- tir, where all the houses, with but few 

 exceptions, are provided with oil-presses and machines for boiling the 

 soap, which seJis at the rate of five sirs the rupee. This village sup- 

 plies the whole of the surrounding hill countries with this necessary. 

 It is held in great estimation as being free from adulteration with 

 jiiar flour and the like ; and is pure fat and potash. 



There is a considerable trade carried on between the districts to the 

 south-east and west, as well as with Badakhshan, Kash-kar, Yarkand, 

 and other places in Chinese Turkistan, by menns of hqfilahs or cara- 

 vans. The route to the latter countries is through the Lahori Pass, 

 near the town of Dir, where the chief of Panj-korah resides ; and 

 where he imposes a small tax or transit duty on merchandize. Tra- 

 vellers and traders are treated with great kindness and hospitality 

 throughout the Panj-korah district ; and with the exception of the 

 independent tribes of the Si'ah-posh Kafirs (who are not subject to 

 the ruler of Lower Kash-kar) who, at times, infest the Lahori Pass, 

 the roads are safe, and the honesty of the people is so great, that the 

 trader may generally penetrate into the remotest valleys, and in the 

 hilly tracts, without danger of being molested by thieves or robbers. 



The darahs, or valleys to the east of the main stream of the Panj- 

 korah river, which divides the district from north to south, together 

 with the names of the villages, clans occupying them, and names of 

 their Kad-khudds or head-men, are as follow. 





Shakolact Daeah. 



Village. 



Clan. 



Chiefs or Head-men 



Karah, 



Shahi-Khel, 



Zardad Khan. 



Deh Hariin, 



Shahi-Khel, 



Masesdm Khan. 



Kot-ki, 



Shahi-Khel r 



Hyder Khan.- 



HHfl 



