1854.] Some Remarks on tlie Origin of the Afglidn loeople. 559 



command of his armies, and the government of the Jins and Diws ; # 

 whilst Asif, the son of Taltit's son Birkiya, was made his principal 

 minister. 



One day king Suliman seated on his throne and accompanied by 

 his minister was journeying through the air,t when they passed the 

 district of Rtidah, in which is situated the lofty mountain of Kase- 

 ghar, which lies between Peshawer and Kandahar, and Kabul and 

 Miiltan. It is near the to^n of Daraban and west of the Sindhu 

 (Indus) river. 



Pleased with the spot, and the salubrity of the climate, the wisest 

 of men directed his minister to form a seat out of a stone which was 

 at hand. This being almost immediately done, Suliman sat in it for 

 some time and enjoyed the beauty of the landscape which lay 

 spread out at his feet. The mountain is known at present as the 

 Takht or (Throne) of Suliman.J A portion of the throne still re- 

 mains, to which the people of the surrounding districts, are in the 

 habit of making pilgrimages. 



* " This statement will not appear so fabulous if we compare it, with Samuel 

 2d. Chap. xxi. verses 15 to 22, for Diw, and Jin, mean— a giant as well as a de- 

 mon or genii— -«j^ diw. A devil, a demon, genius, giant, spirit, ghost, hobgoblin. 

 The Diws or Dives, Jins, Genii, or giants of eastern mythology, area race of malig- 

 nant beings. See ^^ also in Richardson. 



f " No name is more famous among Muhammedans than that of Solomon. Ac- 

 cording to their belief, he succeeded David his father when only 12 years old ; at 

 which age the Almighty placed under his command, all mankind, the beasts of the 

 earth and the fowls of the air, the elements, and the genii. His throne was magni- 

 ficent beyond description. The birds were his constant attendants, screening him 

 like a canopy from the inclemencies of the weather, whilst the winds bore him 

 whithersoever he wished to go. Every age and every nation have had their fool- 

 eries, and even many of the received opinions of modern times will not bear the 

 touchstone of Truth. The sorcery laws of our country are a far more authentic 

 disgrace to human nature, than all the wild, yet pleasing fables of the East." See 

 Richardson. 



% "In the southern part of the Wuzeeree country, where this range is passed 

 through by the river Gomul, it is low in both senses, and forms the lofty mountain 

 of Cussay Ghur, of which the Tukht of Suliman, or Solomon's Throne is the highest 

 peak." Account of the kingdom of Cabul. vol. 1st page 164. 



4< I was told that on the top there was a holy stone or rock, the seat of a Musal~ 

 man Fakir, whose name it bears ; but I venture to doubt the story." Vigue's 

 Ghuzni, Cabul, &c. Page 61. 



