1849.] Kohistan of the Jullundhur . 399 



either in long plaits fastened at the hack of the head with a profusion 

 of red wool and coloured shreds, or comb it back off the forehead, tying 

 it in a lump behind, and adorning it in a similar manner. Around the 

 Hat circular caps are strong large white shells like cowries, glass beads, 

 and pieces of amber. Around their necks both men and women wear 

 amulets of mother o'pearl, pieces of amber, turquoises and other preci- 

 ous stones. Each man has hanging to his belt, a tinder pouch and a 

 brass instrument for striking fire, with many other nondescript imple- 

 ments. They spend 6 months of each year in Kulu on account of the 

 severity of the winter season in Lahoul. The greater part of that time 

 they pass in dancing and drinking. On their jubilees they set off fire- 

 works and make a tremendous noise, whilst the women dance. These 

 exhibitions do not terminate until they are all too drunk to continue 

 them. All the mountaineers are fond of spirituous liquors, especially of 

 brandy, but I believe do not often drink it to excess. By special invi- 

 tation I went to witness the commencement of one of their orgies ; I 

 never laughed more heartily than at the grotesque figures I saw around 

 me on that occasion. The women were most ridiculously decked out, 

 especially the aged dames, who appeared to me as the very personifica- 

 tion of witches ! Many of the young damsels had beautiful eyes, of 

 which they made the utmost use by staring at the stranger. Their 

 characteristic costume, their long cues of hair, and felt caps stuck co- 

 quettishly on one side, and the peculiar bunchy knot peeping out behind, 

 to say nothing of the ornaments, produced a most ludicrous effect, whilst 

 they shuffled and wriggled their bodies about in the dance. The men 

 were all this while either quietly looking on or beating tom-toms and 

 other indescribable instruments, with which they succeeded in making a 

 most disagreeable noise. I cannot say whether such a tamasha prevails 

 on ordinary occasions. 



48. There are two routes from Mundi Nuggur to Shujanpoor, pass- 

 ing by Drung,* the first follows the course of the Beas until it escapes 

 through the Sekunder range. f The road then turns off to the right or 



* In my report on the Kohistan of the Jullundhur, I most unaccountably placed 

 Drung on the eastern flank of the Gogar range, whereas it is situated on the western. 



f "Whether the Sekunder range has been named after Sekunder Lodi of Delhi, or 

 Alexander the Great, I am unable to decide, but am inclined to coincide with the 

 former opinion. I made every enquiry after the altars built by the latter, but ob- 

 tained no clue. 



3 F 



