(Vie et V. de H.
T. p. 390; Lassen, III. 709; Ayeen Akb. II. 147, III. 151; J. A. S.
B. XXXIX. pt. i. 265.)
We see from the Dabistan that in the 17th century Kashmir continued to
be a great resort of Magian mystics and sages of various sects, professing
great abstinence and credited with preternatural powers. And indeed
Vambery tells us that even in our own day the Kashmiri Dervishes are
pre-eminent among their Mahomedan brethren for cunning, secret arts, skill
in exorcisms, etc. (Dab. I. 113 seqq. II. 147-148; Vamb. Sk. of Cent.
Asia, 9.)
NOTE 6. - The first precept of the Buddhist Decalogue, or Ten Obligations
of the Religious Body, is not to take life. But animal food is not
forbidden, though restricted. Indeed it is one of the circumstances in the
Legendary History of Sakya Muni, which looks as if it must be true, that
he is related to have aggravated his fatal illness by eating a dish of
pork set before him by a hospitable goldsmith. Giorgi says the butchers in
Tibet are looked on as infamous; and people selling sheep or the like will
make a show of exacting an assurance that these are not to be slaughtered.
In Burma, when a British party wanted beef, the owner of the bullocks
would decline to make one over, but would point one out that might be shot
by the foreigners.
In Tibetan history it is told of the persecutor Langdarma that he
compelled members of the highest orders of the clergy to become hunters
and butchers. A Chinese collection of epigrams, dating from the 9th
century, gives a facetious list of Incongruous Conditions, among which
we find a poor Parsi, a sick Physician, a fat Bride, a Teacher who does
not know his letters, and a Butcher who reads the Scriptures (of
Buddhism)! (Alph. Tib. 445; Koeppen, I. 74; N. and Q., C. and J.
III. 33.)
NOTE 7. - Coral is still a very popular adornment in the Himalayan
countries. The merchant Tavernier says the people to the north of the
Great Mogul's territories and in the mountains of Assam and Tibet were
the greatest purchasers of coral. (Tr. in India, Bk. II. ch. xxiii.)
CHAPTER XXXII.
OF THE GREAT RIVER OF BADASHAN.
In leaving Badashan you ride twelve days between east and north-east,
ascending a river that runs through land belonging to a brother of the
Prince of Badashan, and containing a good many towns and villages and
scattered habitations. The people are Mahommetans, and valiant in war.
At the end of those twelve days you come to a province of no great size,
extending indeed no more than three days' journey in any direction, and
this is called VOKHAN. The people worship Mahommet, and they have a
peculiar language. They are gallant soldiers, and they have a chief whom
they call NONE, which is as much as to say Count, and they are liegemen
to the Prince of Badashan.[NOTE 1]
There are numbers of wild beasts of all sorts in this region. And when you
leave this little country, and ride three days north-east, always among
mountains, you get to such a height that 'tis said to be the highest place
in the world! And when you have got to this height you find [a great lake
between two mountains, and out of it] a fine river running through a plain
clothed with the finest pasture in the world; insomuch that a lean beast
there will fatten to your heart's content in ten days. There are great
numbers of all kinds of wild beasts; among others, wild sheep of great
size, whose horns are good six palms in length. From these horns the
shepherds make great bowls to eat from, and they use the horns also to
enclose folds for their cattle at night. [Messer Marco was told also that
the wolves were numerous, and killed many of those wild sheep. Hence
quantities of their horns and bones were found, and these were made into
great heaps by the way-side, in order to guide travellers when snow was on
the ground.]
The plain is called PAMIER, and you ride across it for twelve days
together, finding nothing but a desert without habitations or any green
thing, so that travellers are obliged to carry with them whatever they
have need of. The region is so lofty and cold that you do not even see any
birds flying. And I must notice also that because of this great cold, fire
does not burn so brightly, nor give out so much heat as usual, nor does it
cook food so effectually.[NOTE 2]
Now, if we go on with our journey towards the east-north-east, we travel a
good forty days, continually passing over mountains and hills, or through
valleys, and crossing many rivers and tracts of wilderness. And in all
this way you find neither habitation of man, nor any green thing, but must
carry with you whatever you require. The country is called BOLOR. The
people dwell high up in the mountains, and are savage Idolaters, living
only by the chase, and clothing themselves in the skins of beasts. They
are in truth an evil race.[NOTE 3]
NOTE 1. - ["The length of Little Pamir, according to Trotter, is 68
miles.... To find the twelve days' ride in the plain of Marco Polo, it
must be admitted, says Severtsof (Bul. Soc. Geog. XI. 1890, pp.
588-589), that he went down a considerable distance along the south-north
course of the Aksu, in the Aktash Valley, and did not turn towards Tash
Kurgan, by the Neza Tash Pass, crossed by Gordon and Trotter. The descent
from this pass to Tash Kurgan finishes with a difficult and narrow defile,
which may well be overflowed at the great melting of snow, from the end of
May till the middle of June, even to July.
