1864.] 



Au Account of Upper Kdsh-kar. 



149 



Afghans, do not first provide for these people, who were in those 

 countries when the Afghans conquered them, and had been there cen- 

 turies previously. As I said before, the greater part of those people, 

 now to be found in the country held by the Yiisufzis, are called Suwa- 

 tis, and are the descendants of those who remained in their country* 

 after it was conquered ; a goodly number of Degans ; some Hindkis, 

 who have emigrated from the Panjab ; a few Kashmiris, and Hindus, 

 who are attracted by the desire of gain ; and some members of other 

 Afghan tribes who have been obliged to fly from their own people, and 

 who thereby have become degraded to the rank of the Fakirs and 

 Raccyats. The Fakirs cannot hold land, and are not considered equal 

 to their conquerors, who live like Spartans among Helots ; and they 

 are not allowed to be present at Jirgahs or assemblies of the clans. 

 They are subject to the person on whose land they dwell, who is styled 

 the Xhdwind or master. They pay him a small tax and are obliged to 

 work for him gratis, for certain periods, like the villains in our own 

 country in days gone by. The master can beat, or even take the life 

 of his Raceyats or Fakirs, without being questioned for it. But, at 

 the same time, they are sure of every protection from their Xhdwind, 

 who would not, at the risk of his life, permit any other person to 

 injure them. They may pursue any trade, work as labourers for their 

 own advantage, or rent land as a Bazgar, and their master would have 

 no demand upon them but for the fixed rent, a few taxes, and a certain 

 share of their labour, as already mentioned ; and, altogether, they are 

 mildly treated. The KMwind is deterred from ill-treating his Fakirs 

 from the disgrace attached to oppression by the Yusufzis, as well as 

 the other Afghan tribes; and, moreover, a Fakir or Raceyat, if op- 

 pressed can remove to the lands of another Afghan, who would gladly 

 receive, and give him protection, for there is a great competition for 

 them. The number of clans and independent communities among the 

 Afghans are a great protection to these people ; and should one of 

 them receive any deadly injury requiring retaliation, he could revenge 

 himself on his oppressor, and afterwards fly to another clan, or inde- 

 pendent community, and demand protection, which would always be 

 freely granted. 



The KMwind is not permitted to extort money from his Fakir ; 

 but he is allowed to levy a few fines, such as, on the settlement of a 

 * I shall return to the subject of the Suwatis in a future paper. 



