It is said to be a very
old dialect of Persian. A scanty vocabulary was collected by Hayward. (J.
R. G. S. XXI. p. 29.) The people, according to Shaw, have Aryan features,
resembling those of the Kashmiris, but harsher.
[Cf. Captain Trotter's The Oxus below Wakhan, Forsyth's Mission, p.
276.]
We appear to see in the indications of this paragraph precisely the same
system of government that now prevails in the Oxus valleys. The central
districts of Faizabad and Jerm are under the immediate administration of
the Mir of Badakhshan, whilst fifteen other districts, such as Kishm,
Rustak, Zebak, Ishkashm, Wakhan, are dependencies "held by the relations
of the Mir, or by hereditary rulers, on a feudal tenure, conditional on
fidelity and military service in time of need, the holders possessing
supreme authority in their respective territories, and paying little or no
tribute to the paramount power." (Pandit Manphul.) The first part of the
valley of which Marco speaks as belonging to a brother of the Prince, may
correspond to Ishkashm, or perhaps to Vardoj; the second, Wakhan, seems to
have had a hereditary ruler; but both were vassals of the Prince of
Badakhshan, and therefore are styled Counts, not kings or Seigneurs.
The native title which Marco gives as the equivalent of Count is
remarkable.
