1848.] deputed to the Tibetan Frontier. 93 



portions of his route. I have likewise, during the past year, surveyed 

 many portions of Vigne's route ; and I am thus able to state positively 

 that his surveys are in many places erroneous. The following instances 

 will be sufficient to show the inaccuracy of his map. 1st. In the Kan- 

 gra district, he conducts the Guj river from Rihlee into the Ban-Gunga, 

 beneath the walls of Kangra : whereas the Guj follows an independent 

 course, and falls into the Byas several miles below the confluence of 

 the Ban-Gunga. 2nd. In the map accompanying Baron Hugel's tra- 

 vels [which is only Vigne's map with the Baron's route inserted] 

 Vigne's position of Kruhim or Mori-Muhul differs from the Baron's 

 position of Muhul by 10 miles. To the general accuracy of the Baron's 

 route from Bilaspur to Naclon and Nurpur, I can also speak personally ; 

 and I am therefore able to state that Vigne's position of Mori-Muhul 

 is undoubtedly wrong. Mori is a village, and Muhul is an old ruined 

 palace just above it ; whereas Kuruhi, the residence of Raja Ranavir 

 Chund of Kotochj is two miles distant from it. Vigne is therefore dou- 

 bly wrong ; in the name as well as in the position. 



6. In selecting a route which will conduct me by the head of the 

 Kishen Gunga river to Hasora, I believe that I shall best fulfil the 

 intentions of Government as detailed in the instructions furnished to 

 me in Mr. Secretary Elliot's Letter No. 249 of the 27th of July last 

 to my address ; in which I am directed to follow out my own antiquari- 

 an pursuits, as well as to increase our geographical knowledge. At the 

 head of the Kishen-Gunga river, there is a district named Pakhtawar ; 

 which, from its proximity to Kashmir is, I have no doubt, the original 

 seat of the Pakhtans (or Afghans) . Our earliest authority for coupling 

 the Afghans and Kashmiris together is Herodotus, whose city of Kas- 

 papuros (called Kaspaturos by Isidor of Charax, and Spaturos by the 

 Pentingarian Tables) I would correct to Kaspakturos ; that is, the city 

 (or country,) of the Kas and Pakhtans (the Kashmiris and Afghans). 



The similarity of features of the two people would alone argue their 

 common origin : but their former juxta-position, the one on the Jehlam 

 and the other on the Kishen-Gunga, places the point (in my opinion) 

 beyond dispute. The fact of their diversity of language is easily 

 accounted for. The Pakhtans, who are only a branch of the Kas tribe, 

 preserved their peculiar language and customs in the mountainous coun- 

 try which they occupied ; whereas the language and the customs of the 



