1845.] An account of the Early Aldalees. 447 



They have a custom, alike repugnant to the Jewish as well as to the 

 Mahommedan creed, common in Wales, where it is called " bundling." 

 The Afghans call it " Namzad-bazee,"* or " betrothal game." 



Khaja Nyamatulla, in his History of the Afghans, says that David 

 swore to Saul, (1 Samuel, chap. xxiv. verses 21 and 22) that on Saul's 

 death two of his wives were with child, one bare Berkia, and the 

 other Irmia. The son of Irmia was Afkana, and the son of Berkia, 

 Asif. 



Sir W. Jones says, Saul had two sons, one called Berkia and the 

 other Irmia, who served David faithfully, and were beloved by him. The 

 son of Berkia was called Afghan, and the son of Irmia, Usbee. 



Neither of these accounts agrees with the Scripture. The name of 

 " Elkanah" is the only one occurring in the Books of Samuel, Kings, 

 or Chronicles, in the least resembling Afghanah or Afkanah; and 

 although it cannot by any Persian rule be corrupted from Elkanah, yet 

 we find the name Hul, (Genesis, chap. x. verse 32,) corrupted into the 

 Persian Hood. 



Asaph (Asif,) the son of Berechiah (Berkia,) is mentioned; 1 Chroni- 

 cles, chap. iv. verse 17 ; and Berechiah and Elkanah in the 23rd verse 

 of the same chapter. 



Berachah, Irmia (Jeremiah,) and Elkanah as connected with Saul, are 

 mentioned, 1 Chronicles, chap. xii. verses 3, 4 and 8. 



If we look upon Kais as a progenitor of the Afghans, and suppose 

 that they increased in the same manner that the children of Israel did, 

 (viz. at the rate of 2,100 for every year,) and also allow Kais to have 

 lived in the time of Mahommed, then at the time that Elphinstone wrote, 

 the Afghans should have amounted to 2,500,000. Elphinstone esti- 

 mates them at 4,300,000. This would by the same calculation refer 

 the progenitor of the Afghans back to about the time of Alexander. 



If again Afghan, a grandson of Saul, was their progenitor in Elphin- 

 stone's time, by the same calculation they should have amounted to about 

 5,700,000, including the Afghans of Hindustan. 



* This is allowed after the " Ijab kabool," formerly asking in marriage and ac- 

 cepting before witnesses, but before the nika or marriage ceremony, being the blessing 

 of the Mulla. A settlement also being first fixed before the Mulla of the parish. 



Sheer-bha or "price of milk," is sometimes given to the mother of the daughter if a 

 widow. 



