106 The progress of the Kashmir Series. [No. 2, 
At the last durbar held by the Maharajah, Colonel Devi Singh 
made his salam, having just returned from the Gilgit expedition. 
Some of the Yassin men* were introduced at the same time. One 
long brass gun of about 3 lbs. bore accompanied the Colonel, his 
sepoys having taken it from the Goraman’s son. This gun 
seemed to be well cast and had a Persian inscription on it to the 
effect that it was made in Badakshan, or had belonged to that place. 
Among the minor results of the expedition was a great influx of 
presents to the Maharajah from all the chiefs between Gilgit and 
Kafiristan. Perhaps the most valuable in the eyes of the curator of the 
Asiatic Society’s Museum would have been a splendid live male speci- 
men of the Markhor, the greatest prize of Himalayan sportsmen. 
This animal was introduced into the full durbar guided by four 
men with guy ropes. It was really a handsome animal, of a light 
fawn colour, in good condition, with a capital pair of horns and a fine 
long beard. The top of the Markhor’s head was perhaps 5| feet 
from the ground, the horns towering up above all the men in atten- 
dance. The keepers of this animal evidently held him in the great- 
est respect, though he had been a captive for at least two months. 
He was a present from the chiefs of Koli-Palus on the Indus. 
The Chilassies sent in some very fine half domesticated goats, a 
part of which the Maharajah distributed amongst the European 
visitors to Kashmir. One of these goats now in my possession has 
a very fine pair of horns of the Markhor kind. 
The country on either side of the Indus between the British dis- 
trict of Hazara and the Maharajah’s valley of Astor has hitherto 
been all but impassable. With Chilas, Kholi and Palus all under 
the orders of the Maharajah, a very slight pressure ought to open 
out the remainder down to the Hazara district, which would all tend 
to bring the Akhoon of Swat to reason, and perhaps eventually 
enable us to explore his valley and the whole course ot the Indus 
river. At the same time, opening out the whole valley of the Indus _ 
is in itself no small advantage, if it will enable travellers to pass 
along in safety. 
* The Yassin men in long dark Khaki coloured woollen dresse3. Men of Swat 
in long dark blue woollen dresses. 
