386 Description of Mohzarkhala in Western Huzara. [No. 4. 



This bank consists of a confused mass of boulders, granite, lime- 

 stone, clay-slate and greenstone, all heaped upon a thick stratum of 

 sandstone of varying quality, some argillaceous, some ferriferous of a 

 deep red colour, and with some traces of lignite, alum earth and iron- 

 pyrites. In this sandstone are the holes where the beads are found. 



There are also found pieces of broken pottery in the neighbour- 

 hood and among the debris. Mr. Gardiner concludes that the tarn 

 is the crater of an extinct volcano, and that former eruptions with 

 earthquakes demolished some ancient place of albode. 



The following is the legend of Moh. Moh created the earth, and 

 his wife Mabun created the wilderness. From them sprung the 

 first giant race. They slept alternately for 999 moons and reigned 

 450,000 moons. After this period three sons rebelled, viz. Sheh the 

 life-destroyer, Zhei the fire-god, and Maul the earth-quaker, and by 

 their combined efforts Moh was buried beneath the mountains. Con- 

 fusion lasted 5000 moons — after which the three victors retired each 

 to his own region for 10,000 moons. 



Maul was lost in darkness of his own creating. Sheh fled with 

 his family towards the sun, which so much enraged Zhei, that he 

 caused fire to spread over the earth; this was quenched by the 

 spirit of Mabun, but not till the whole giant race was destroyed 

 and the earth remained a desert for 3000 moons. Then Hersh and 

 Lethram, originally slaves of Moh and great magicians, emerged from 

 the north, and settled in these mountains. By some Lethram is 

 considered as the incarnate spirit of Mabun and the Queen to whom 

 Hersh was vizier. Hersh had three sons Uz, Muz and All.* These 

 he left in charge of all their families, while with a large army he 

 travelled toward the sun in pursuit of Sheh, who was supposed to be 

 still living. 



So the three sons of Hersh and their descendants reigned happily 

 for 18,000 moons till Khoor (Cyrus ?) invaded and conquered the 

 country ; but after many years' struggle they expelled the invader 

 and retained the name Khoorkush (Cyrus-killer), now Khirghiz. 

 The descendants of Hersh continued to reign for 10,000 moons more 

 till Khoondroo (Alexander ?) invaded the country, after which no 

 separate legend of them seems to be recollected. 



* Whose names seem retained in the Uztagh, Muztagh and Altai mountains. 



