1859.] Notes on Kafirlstan. 331 



The accounts of the ancients are further confirmed by the 

 traditions of the people of these countries ; and from the fact of the 

 precious metal being found washed down by the rivers and minor 

 streams in Kafiristan, Panjkorah, Bajawer, Suwat, Gilgitt, and 

 other valleys, west of the upper branch of the Indus, at the present 

 day. 



Gold, at present, appears to be chiefly obtained from the sands 

 of the beds of rivers alone. Numbers of gold-washers are employed 

 in the upper branches of the Kunir or Cheghan-sara'e river, at 

 Peshiit and other places ; in the bed of the Chitral or Kashkar, and 

 its tributaries also ; in the river of Kabul near Jelaiabad ; and in 

 Kafiristan.* 



In Bajawar, Panjkorah, and Suwat, quantities of gold-dust are 

 collected; indeed, much more than the Afghans of these parts care 

 to, or readily will, confess. They adopt another mode than washing 

 the sands of the rivers, by half burying sheep-skins in the beds of 

 the streams, allowing the wool free play, and in this the particles 

 of gold becomes entangled. I am told by the Afghans of these 

 parts, that the gold thus obtained, is of a much paler yellow than 

 that seen in the Panjab and in India, being almost straw colour. 



In the Gilgitt valley, and that of Hunzi, and Nagyr, which open 

 into it from the north-east, and also in Little Thibet,t the ore is 

 principally obtained by washing, J 



* " The rivers flowing through Kafiristan undoubtedly bring down gold with 

 them. There are constantly a number of gold-washers employed near Peshut on 

 the river of Chitral and Kameh (Kunir). The metal is also found in the rivers 

 of Lamghan, and in the river of Kabul, into which they fall, and is sometimes 

 collected near Kergah and Charbagh of Lamghan, and again near Jelaiabad." 

 Masson's Travels. Vol. I. pp. 213. 



t " Nagyr is celebrated for its gold- washing, and its Raja is said to be in 

 possession of a very large piece of native gold, found near the edge of the 

 boundary glacier (in the Basha valley) already alluded to." Vigne ; Kashmir 

 Vol. II. pp. 288. 



X " On the banks of the Basha stream is produced more gold-dust than in any 

 other part of Little Thibet, and it is the only place the Raja reserves to himself 

 for that purpose. Any other person may wash the sand for gold elsewhere, but 

 the value of the quantity collected, and of the time expended, is so nearly 

 balanced, that I have never seen any gold-washers but once, and that was near 

 the village of Kerris." Ibid, pp. 287. 



