The Boiling Of The Wine Is Noted By
Baber (A Connoisseur) As The Custom Of Nijrao, Adjoining, If Not Then
Included In, Kafir-Land; And Elphinstone Implies The Continuance Of The
Custom When He Speaks Of The Kafirs As Having Wine Of The Consistence Of
Jelly, And Very Strong.
The wine of Kapishi, the Greek Kapisa,
immediately south of Hindu Kush, was famous as early as the time of the
Hindu grammarian Panini, say three centuries B.C. The cord twisted round
the head was probably also a relic of Kafir costume:
"Few of the Kafirs
cover the head, and when they do, it is with a narrow band or fillet of
goat's hair ... about a yard or a yard and a half in length, wound round
the head." This style of head-dress seems to be very ancient in India, and
in the Sanchi sculptures is that of the supposed Dasyas. Something very
similar, i.e. a scanty turban cloth twisted into a mere cord, and wound
two or three times round the head, is often seen in the Panjab to this
day.
The Postin or sheepskin coat is almost universal on both sides of the
Hindu Kush; and Wood notes: "The shoes in use resemble half-boots, made of
goatskin, and mostly of home manufacture." (Baber, 145; J. A. S. B.
XXVIII. 348, 364; Elphinst. II. 384; Ind. Antiquary, I. 22; Wood,
174, 220; J. R. A. S. XIX. 2.)
NOTE 4. - Marsden was right in identifying Scassem or Casem with the
Kechem of D'Anville's Map, but wrong in confounding the latter with the
Kishmabad of Elphinstone - properly, I believe, Kishnabad - in the
Anderab Valley.
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