1845.] Account of the Panjkora Valley. 817 



Ten thousand Kamoz Cafers who are situated to the north of Katar 

 and Kampar, pay tribute to Shah Kator ; they are very obedient subjects, 

 and, unlike other Kohistanees, they do not rob. 



Upper Kashkar under Malik Aman, is called Shighnan. The people 

 are Sheeah Musulmans, who know nothing of their sect, beyond the 

 name. They pray and fast with the Sunnees of lower Kashkar. 



The horses are better than in the country of Shah Kator. 



The principal places of Shighnan are Mastooj, the capital of Gouhar 

 Aman Padshah, formerly ; now under the son of Malik Aman ; to the 

 south is Daroosh ; to the east Hujkoom ; to the south of which is 

 Shootee. 



From Daroosh, via the Pass of Soori to Mastooj, two nights are 

 spent on the road, infested by Cafers in the summer. The road is a gun- 

 one. Guns can go throughout the country of both Kashkars beyond 

 Daroosh, but up to that the road is difficult for laden horses. 



Shighit to the north, and Shighnan to the east, are included in Kash- 

 kar, but under a separate rule. 



From Shighnan to Shighit are five stages. The Cooner river passes to 

 the west of Mastooj, and takes its rise in the lake of Neel. Beyond 

 Mastooj, water runs to the north. 



On the Assam Petroleum Beds (in a letter to Major Jenkins, communi- 

 cated by him.) By Capt. P. S. Hannay. 



Mr. Piddington having supplied me with a specimen of Asphalte 

 rock from Pyremont, I have taken some trouble in trying to find some- 

 thing of the kind amongst the numerous coal strata and bituminous 

 springs which abound in the neighbourhood of this place, but as yet 

 have not been successful in finding a calcareous Asphalte, which the 

 specimen furnished appears to be, and this may be accounted for, proba- 

 bly, by the absence of anything like a pure limestone rock, existing 

 with the carboniferous strata which is visible. 



I have however the pleasure to send you a few specimens of the 

 earthy Asphalte and indurated sandy Asphalte, found in and lying over 

 the Petroleum beds, near a spot which I dare say you recollect as 



