1859.] Notes on Kafiristan. 365 



sacred fire like the followers of Zartusht, and do not even seem to 

 know anything concerning it. At the same time, a number of their 

 usages bear great resemblance to those of the Gabrs, of whom they 

 are probably an off-shoot, but whose characteristics have gradually 

 declined during the many centuries they have been separated from the 

 parent stock. The Badakhshanis and others, inhabiting the surround- 

 ing countries, are probably descended from the same race. 



The Magian religion was not exclusively confined to Media, but 

 extended to the east to Bakhtra, (in which the royal residence was 

 first situated,) and as far as the stupendous mountains of the Indian 

 Caucasus and the valley of the Oxus, the whole of which extensive 

 tracts of country — where numerous ruins attributed to the Gabrs 

 still exist — were included in the mighty empire of the Medes. It is 

 also evident from the Zendavesta, that it was in these regions the 

 religion of Sapatman Zoroaster " first took root and flourished, and thus 

 it became the parent land of the civil institutions of the Medes."* 



Several authors claim for the Si'ah-posh tribes Hellenic ancestry, 

 but on what grounds does not appear. They themselves do not put 

 forth a claim to such illustrious descent ; but they pride themselves 

 on being brothers of the Farangi, and according to the traditions 

 preserved among them, they affirm, that coeval with the spread of 

 Islamism, they occupied the countries to the south of their present 

 location, and have been subsequently compelled to seek for liberty and 

 for safety, among the mountains and valleys of the Hindu Kush, from 

 the insupportable tyranny of their Muhammadan neighbours whom 

 they designate Awddl. They appear, therefore, unquestionably to be 

 the remnant of the aboriginal inhabitants of the country to the 

 south of the Kabul river and central Afghanistan as at present 

 constituted. This is confirmed by the traditions of the Afghans 

 also ; from the existing histories in the Pus'hto or Afghan language ; 



(Wakhan.) A Wakliani considers it bad luck to blow out a light by the breath, 

 and will rather wave his hand for several minutes under the (lame of his pine- 

 slip, than resort to the sure, but to him, disagreeable alternative." Journey to 



THE OXUS. 



* Heeren : "Asiatic Nations." Yol. I. pp. 149. 



3 B 



