300 Travels in Central Asia. [No. 3. 



Ashoo Hamoo road from Gilgit ; there are six or seven marches 

 through snow in summer. 



2Sth. — Eeach Peeloon on Indus ; get rid of their Ghonts. 



29th. — Frightful march overhanging the Indus, along ledges, &c. ; 

 hauled across in a leather bag, nearly opposite the junction of 

 Gilgit Biver, to Shooghoor. The range is called Ashoo Hamoo to the 

 JJsliur Kafir gulli pass at sources of the Abba Sind ; thence westward 

 the Deer or Durd Mountain. Bramhu and source of river Lunda 

 which it seems is the Cabul, of the Bonur of the Abba Sind. 



30^. — Cross Gilgit river by rope-bridge, and up its West bank ; 

 dreadful path along precipices to Ashnoo. Here in a mosque ! in 

 an inner room is an idol, much reverenced, resembling Neptune 

 with a trident and Greek helmet, black sable, called Konchoo ; said 

 to have been found in a hot spring. Near Ashnoo, (old name Oor 

 or Oornath) were extensive ruins of a large city and cave on table- 

 top of a large mountain ; a large pond in the middle ; remains of old 

 Tort. Greek coins plenty, two of King Maius ; — petrifactions abund- 

 ant ; they are laid by the image, and then, becoming holy, are panaceas. 



The Moolla said they did not worship the image, but respected it 

 as that of the founder of their race, Shoohungrow, grandson either 

 ot Solomon or Noah ! 



The Iskardo people are descended from Askar, son of Alexander 

 by Nargat daughter of Phalgon Eaj. 



By Oospun daughter of Mamkoosh of Gilgit and Deer, Alexander 

 had two sons Usperan who died, and Eul who was taken away with his 

 mother by Alexander, and became king of Gershon far off in the sea 

 near Mecca ; — and by Maihethata daughter of Bambur of Bolor, a 

 Sholee, he had one daughter Bahama who married the son of the 

 Gilgit king. 



31st. — Left Aushnoor, very difficult road along W. bank of river ; 

 entered valley of Gilgit, 10 — 15 miles broad to Dairshen where it 

 expands, about 80 or 100 miles long, on W. Gil Hamu mountains, 

 which to S. join the Ashoo Hamoo ; they have no pass and are 

 covered with perpetual snow. 



To S. of this great range is Yusufzahy, between great and little 

 range; Kafirs dwell in valley of Kahinook; the little range or Kahinook 

 joins the Gilgit near Aushman — Kafirs low, red, broad ; blue eyes. 



