554 Some Remarks on the Origin of the Afghan people. [No. 6. 



modern tongue, and in all probability derived from the Zend, Pehlavi 

 and the Hebrew. The language to which I refer is the Pukhto, 

 Pushto, or Afghanian. 



Languages can alone be fashioned and extended by oral use, 

 though by writing and literature, their subsequent cultivation can be 

 effected, and it is therefore certain that the dead languages of the 

 Asiatic continent must at one time have been generally spoken,* 

 from the fact, that several living languages are evidently derived 

 from them.f The cause of their ceasing to be the medium of com- 

 munication may have arisen in various ways — the intercourse with 

 foreigners brought thither by commercial pursuits, subjugation to 

 the yoke of others, and such like circumstances, so affect a language 

 as to produce various new dialects, which, as proved by our own 

 mother-tongue, are capable of undergoing still further transfor- 

 mation . 



There has perhaps never been a greater diversity of opinion, 

 respecting the descent of any one people, than that of the Afghans. 

 FerishtahJ traces their origin to the Copts, whilst most oriental 

 writers are of opinion that they are of Jewish family. According to 

 Klaproth, Gatterer considers the Afghans to be a Georgian race f 

 and their language Georgian also. The Armenians hold the Afghans 

 to be descended from themselves j and Krusinsky, Beineggs, and 

 several other European historians, notwithstanding the want of proof 

 to support such an opinion, appear convinced of it. Major Keppel§ 

 (now Earl of Albemarle) states that the people of Shirwan, and the 

 adjoining countries, consider the Afghans are descended from them. 

 St. Martin|| in his account of the Armenian Arghowans, is of opi- 

 nion, that the Afghans cannot be identified with them. Other 

 authors have declared them to be descendants of the Indd-Scythians, 

 the Medians, the Soghdians, Turks, Tartars, and Monghols.^f 



* I have lately beard of a seal having been found near Pind Dadun Khan, iu 

 the Panjab, bearing an inscription in the arrow-headed character. 

 *f- Heeren. 

 % Tarikh-i-Ferishta. 



§ Personal Narrative of travels, vol. II. page 194. 

 H Memoires sur Armenie, Vol. I. page 213 to 226. 

 \ See Tarikh-ul-Yammi of Atbi, Matlaa-us-Salatin, and Jami-ul-Tawarikb. 



