346 Notes on Kafiristdn. [No. 4. 



don't you see them ? your relatives, the Kafirs ?" I heard Conolly 

 tell this as a good joke, he believing at the same time, that his Afghan 

 attendant was not actuated by impudence in attributing a blood 

 connection between his master and the Kafirs. 



" The Kafirs themselves certainly claimed relationship ; but I fear 

 their reception by poor Sir William was not such as pleased them ; 

 and they returned to the hills regarding us as a set of purse-proud 

 people ashamed to own our Country Cousins. 



" During the remainder of our sojourn in Afghanistan nothing more 

 was seen or heard of this singular race, at least not that I am aware 

 of; and I cannot but regard it as most uufortunate, that, when so 

 favourable an opportunity presented itself of becoming acquainted 

 with these tribes and the country they inhabit, they should have 

 been allowed to depart unconciliated, and no advantage have been 

 taken of their visit." 



The rare opportunity for sending a European Officer back with 

 them to explore their country was thus, as usual, neglected and 

 altogether lost. 



The Kafir tribes appear to have been at enmity with their 

 Muhammadau neighbours to the south for ages past; but they are 

 generally on friendly terms with the people of Badakhshan and 

 Chitral or Chitrar, and Upper Kashkar, and occasionally enter into 

 treaties with them. # 



Timur made an unsuccessful attempt to reduce them when on 

 his way to invade Hindustan, at which time, he detached ten 

 thousand men against them. This force advanced to Inderab, a 

 town of Badakhshan, and thence proceeded by Ferijan,on the south- 

 ern slope of Hindu Knsh, into the Kafir country ; and in the valley 

 of Pohun — the former residence of the Paudu tribe — on the summit 

 of a lofty mountain, known as Mount Kahun, the invaders found 

 the remains of a vast fortress. This they repaired ; and it is 

 called " Timur Hissar," or " Timur' s Castle," to this day. A more 

 particular account of it will be found in another place. The Mo- 



* " The Kafirs are on good terms with the Ckitralis, and occasionally mix 

 with them — my authority is the grandson of the exiled Raja of Chitral, who was 

 driven out by Shah Kutor. I saw him in Little Thibet." Vigne's Ghuzni 

 Kabul, etc. pp. 235. 



