56 Verification of the Itinerary of Hwan Thsang [July, 



(The bearing and distance point to the Wakhan valley, which agree 

 exactly with the description of Hwan Thsang ; for from the Sir-i-kol 

 lake to the junction of the Shakh-dara, the Oxus is 170 miles in length, 

 measured direct on Wood's map ; to which must be added one half 

 more for the windings of the stream, making a total length of 255 miles. 

 From Ishkashm to Kundut, the valley of Wakhan is from " a few hun- 

 dred yards to a mile in width." The average width is therefore some 

 what more than half a mile, as accurately stated by Hwan Thsang. 

 This is one more proof that the measurements of the Chinese pilgrim 

 are generally correct. The name of Hu-mi is no doubt derived from 

 the Hien-mi tribe of Tochari, whose name is still preserved in Amu, 

 the modern appellation of the Oxus. Wakhan is mentioned by Ibn 

 Haukal, Edrisi and Marco Polo, and it is, I believe, the Vanda-banda 

 regio of Ptolemy.) 



No. 133.— She-khi-ni, 2000 li (333 miles) in extent. The capital 

 is called Wen-ta-to. This country is to the N. of the Great Snowy 

 Mountains. (She-khi-ni is the Shakhndn of the present day, and the 

 Sakinah of Ibn Haukal and Edrisi.). 



To the S. of Wakhan and the Great Mountains is 



No. 134.— Shang-mi, 2500 to 2600 li (417 to 433 miles) in extent. 

 The letters are the same as those of the Tochari ; but the language is 

 different. The king is of the race of She. The religion of Buddha 

 is held in great honor. (This can only be the valley of Chitral, with 

 the lateral vallies of Kaflristan. The name was perhaps derived from 

 the Indo-Scythian tribe of Shwang-mi.) 



To the N. E. over the mountains by a dangerous road, at 700 li 

 (117 miles) is the valley of Pho-mi-lo, (or Pamer, Landresse) which 

 is 1000 li (167 miles) from E. to W. and 100 li (17 miles) from N. 

 to S. and is situated between two snowy mountains. There is the 

 great lake of serpents, which is 300 li (50 miles) from E. to W. and 

 50 li (upwards of 8 miles) from N. to S. It is in the midst of the 

 Tsung Sing mountains. (This is the well known lake of Sir-i-kol, at 

 the source of the Oxus and in the district of Pamer.) 



To the S. of Pamer, across the mountains is the kingdom of the 

 Po-he-lo (or Bolor, Landresse) which produces much gold. The S. 

 E. part of the district is inhabited. (This is the kindom of Balti or 

 Little Tibet, which is called Palolo by the Dardus. From this name 



