76 
ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY OF KASHMIR. 
[Extra ]tfo. 2, 
The term dhdrd which is added to Pahcala, represents in all pro¬ 
bability the equivalent of our ‘ pass.’ Skr. dhdrd means generally the 
sharp edge of some object. According to Wilson’s Dictionary, as quoted 
by Bothlingk-Roth, the word also carries the specific meaning of ‘ edge 
of a mountain.’ It is probable that this meaning was taken by Wilson’s 
Pandits from some Kosa. In any case it agrees closely with the 
use of the word dhar in the modern Pahari dialects south of Kasmir. 
There it is well-known as the designation of any high mountain ridge 
above the region of alpine pasture. 
We are tempted to see in Pancdla a distinct local name, either of the 
Pass itself or of the whole mountain chain. But the use of the modern 
derivative Pantsal presents difficulties in the way of a certain conclu¬ 
sion. The word Pantsal is applied in Kasmir chiefly to the great 
mountain chain which forms the boundary of the country to the south, 
i.e., the range to which conventional European usage gives the name of 
‘ Pir Pantsal.’ Yet the meaning now conveyed to a Kasmirl by the 
term Pantsal, is scarcely more than that of ‘ high mountain range.’ 
The word is used in combination with specific names for the desig¬ 
nation of subordinate branches of the great range towards the Panjab. 
Thus the range crossed on the way from the Pir Pantsal Pass to Rajauri, 
is known as ‘ Eatan Pantsal ,’ and the one crossed by the Haji Pir Pass 
between Uri and Prunts (Punch) as ‘ Haji Pantsal .’ Sometimes, but 
not so generally, the term is applied also to mountains wholly uncon¬ 
nected with the Pir Pantsal system. 
On the whole I am inclined to believe that Pancdla > Pantsal had 
originally the character of a specific local name. It may have been 
applied either to the whole of the great southern chain of mountains or 
its central portion about the Pir Pantsal Pass. Subsequent usage may 
then have extended the application of the term just as it has that of 
the name ‘Alps’ in Europe. Our materials, however, are not sufficient 
to enable us to trace the history of the word with certainty . 1 
46 . In this connection it will be useful briefly to notice also the 
word Pir which forms the first part of the 
Pir, a term for pass. modern designation of the Pass. This word 
is now used more or less frequently for ‘ Pass’ both in Kasmir and the 
hill-tracts south of it. Mr. Drew who seems to have given more 
attention to local nomenclature in these hills than other travellers, 
in his explanation of the term starts from the well-known meaning 
of Pir in Persian, an 1 old man ’ and thence a ‘ saint or Eaqir .’ 2 
1 The main facts regarding the modern use of the word Panifial have been quite 
correctly recognized already by Drew, Jummoo , p. 157. 
2 See Jummoo, p. 157 note. 
