1853.] Travels in Central Asia. 301 



Halted at a ruined fort at Morokagul ; village and fort of Tahi at 

 junction of Peloo or Hanzi river with Gilgit, which rises at Khan- 

 koon and passes fort Goolzar ; Gilgit town and fort a day's march on 

 E. bank of river. 



Prejudice against married women milking ; the animal is killed and 

 eaten, else it is thought too divine. 



Estimates population at 25 or 30,000 of all Gilgit ; revenue l-10th 

 of produce. 



April 1st. — Passed 3 or 4 good villages and forts. Halt at Pok 

 Zoleen belonging to a semi-independant chief, Shah Hosyn ; a good 

 day's march, S. W. from Gilgit. 



2nd. — Well cultivated ; halt at Stambook, a fort ; opposite to Jaakoor 

 on E. bank, and two miles lower — on E. bank, Booloo. N. E. of B. 

 are hot and salt springs. 



3rd. — Hugged the base of mountains — much jungle grass — halted 

 at Plunghaee Pelongue ? valley about 12 miles round. On bank of 

 Peloo, which rises at Kafirkal to S. W- and joins the Gilgit at 

 Mishnik, a fort belonging to Ruvanshun. 



To W. of Pelongue is a pond and well, whence rises the Akoo, 

 and runs through great range N. W. and W. to Booshperkai, two 

 days from Duirshen. 



4th. — Crossed Peloo by raw-hide bridge ; rugged country ; halted 

 at a ruined fort, Zanze, on bank of Shangraf, which is 15 yards wide 

 and was crossed by a hide bridge. Hence a pass leads to Chitral ; 

 Galena found. 



5th. — N. W. bare, uninhabited country to Shemal on the Akoo, 

 belonging to chief of Dharm-Dairahim ; on opposite side a large river 

 joins, which has two branches from Peloo and Bolor ranges. 



Then through Akoos from the Chitral river — cold — ice 6 inches. 



6th, — Over rocks and chasms down the Chitral by the Shoor pass 

 to ruins of Kafirwan, fort Cyclopean ; narrow valley, rock of immense 

 height ; 200 yards lower down a 3rd branch called Thook joins 

 the Akahoo — Kai e Mai e Kanki — Chitral mountains granite, mixed 

 with a black rock of glassy fracture. 



7th. — Along precipitous sides of the den 30 yards ; sometimes 

 even with ropes to help ; find two murdered bodies on the road ! 

 Eeach post of Booskerkau belonging to a Moorzoom chief Mahom- 



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