Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries Part 61

_Tat_, Father. _Dhermurr_, Neck.

_Zfee_, Mother. _Kaitss_, Hair.

_Porottr_, Boy, Son. _Deh_, Beard.

_Jhoo_, Girl, Daughter. _Troh_, Chest.

_Moochook_, a little Girl. _Booh_, Arm.

_Ooruttur_, a large ditto. _Ungree_, Hand.

_Birra_, Brother. _Sichupput_, Fingers.

_Soose_, Sister. _Noach_, Nail.

_Tsoon_, Dog. _Dust oungree_, Thumb.

_Pishash_, Cat. _Koorr_, Leg.

_Goh_, Cow. _Papoa_, Foot.

_Ghora_, Horse.

The mixture of Hindoostanee names is very curious indeed, particularly those names of things which, from being indigenous, one would suppose would have indigenous names.

_7th_.--Went up to Bharowl and returned to-day, March 9th, first went to Loongurze, the Barometer at which stood 24.758. Therm. in sun 85 degrees. Bharowl is a small plain, but still three or four times larger than Loongurze, and perhaps 100 feet below it: this place is up the ravine leading to the fourth peak of the west side, which same peak must be between 9,000 to 10,000 feet high. Loongurze is visible from this, and is more to the south.

The villages consist of several houses forming a sort of wall; outside, the houses are of one story, with terraced roof, supported by timbers, they are built of stones, slabs of micaceous slate, which is the prevailing rock, and timbers interposed as ties; the rooms are very dark, and very dirty, with no outlet for the smoke. The only part of the furniture worth noticing consists of an inverted conical basket, made out of the stems of some large gra.s.s, coated with mud, and truncated at the top, used to keep grain in. The under, or ground floor appears to be used for the domestic animals which are cows, goats, fowls, etc. The inhabitants of Bharowl, _Bhawiolis_, are a _kafir_ race with a Mussulman cast of countenance, but fair, of an unhealthy look, with in many cases light hair, and generally light eyes, they are a rather large tribe, and appear to have but few wants, are very poor, and very dirty; the better part of the men are clothed in Cashgar, _chargas_, and ordinary cotton under-garments; the women dress in blue. Both villages are on the limit of inferior snow at this season; there is enough of cultivation about to supply their wants, chiefly wheat and barley, and a sort of pea.

Loongurze is infested with a villainous midge, of the same genus as that of the Naga Hills, but few are to be found at Bharowl.

At Loongurze I met a Khungurlye slave, of the caste Krungurlye, the head- quarters of which are at a mountain village, about eight _cos_ off, in a north-west direction. The chief of Koorungul is Ahmed Khan, he is independent: his village having 400 men, well armed.

The man wore a goat skin jacket without sleeves, a skull cap of camel hair netted, and leggings to the ancle of the same, to keep off the midges; these leggings are likewise used at Bharowl for the same purpose.

The following is a specimen of the Krungurlye dialect.

_Baba_, Father. _Wurrik_, Water.

_Aiee_, Mother. _Soourr_, Hog.

_Lohideck_, Brother. _Kookoor_, Fowl.

_Trizzai_, Sister. _Ow_, Bread.

_Khleck_, Woman. _Trull_, Jungul.

_Gillor_, Horse. _Psan-sa_, Cat.

The Krungurlies are said to have been _kafirs_, converted long ago. They are now quite Mussulman in appearance. They were doubtless originally a mixture of European and Tartar races driven by persecution to the hills, to which they are still perhaps restricted by the cause which led to their original isolation.

I tried to ascend the ridge, but the snow was impracticable even within 700 feet of the village. The _Nakhtur_, or Pinus, which is the prevailing feature above Bharowl, is the same as the Tazeen one, and is a Cedrus or _Abils_, leaves very short, cones erect and elegant, but only broken ones could be found. The ridge and its face is quite covered with them, they grow singly. Huge ma.s.ses of micaceous rocks are scattered here and there, some are of gigantic size.

The Baloot is the next most common tree, but I fancy it does not extend beyond 7,500 feet; this is in general use for firewood, many of the trees, especially below, are much damaged, and on these the leaves are generally very th.o.r.n.y. Next is the Zaitoon, but it is not common in this direction, although common a mile to the south on the ridge first ascended. The soil is now saturated with snow water, and appears good and plentiful. The want of soil is another reason why the lower ranges are so barren, but this is just the contrary of what would be expected.

In spite of the beauty and fineness of these forests, there is still the Khora.s.san paucity of forms. Many herbaceous plants are doubtless hid under the snow, but few shrubs were to be seen: the Mespilus of Tazeen being the most common at 6,000 to 7,000 feet, a Thymus, l.a.b.i.ata, Olea fragrans, Ocymoidea, two or three Crucifera; Sedum pictum observed, and Melanthaceae which has fragrant flowers, is very common. The rocks are covered with mosses, Grimmia pulvinaloides, every where in profusion. New forms consist of a fine Tortula and an Anictangioid, with leaves white, and membranous from the middle upwards.

Birds, a black and white Erythaca, eyes fuscous-brown; the wood pigeon; a jay, which is a beautiful bird, irides light brown; a small woodp.e.c.k.e.r, with a greenish subcrest; the _Parus_; a thrush not obtained; Parus caerulens; a pretty red-crowned small Fringilla, eyes light brown; common crow, chakor, bearded vulture; a wren, not obtained, with irides light brown, but with exactly the manners of Troglodytis. Chamaerops, _Maizurrye_ used for netting ropes for bedsteads, Visc.u.m of Baloot, used for food of domestic animals.

Wild goats, sheep, an a.s.s-like animal (_Goomasht_), and a fox which is handsome, of large size, and common.

_8th_.--Returned.

The _Kafirs_ have a game exactly the same as the English leap-frog, called by them _Shutruck_. They were very much astonished at my understanding it. They are miserable marksmen, and were even at small distances unable to strike a large object, as for instance a hat at twenty yards, although offered a handsome reward; nor can they shoot at all at long distances. They are in this respect quite below Khasyas and Booteas.

[Ridge near Loongurze: m466.jpg]

_March 9th_.--Yesterday evening a female of Lophophorus, was brought in, and a beautiful pheasant, having claret-coloured neck. Body otherwise fuscous and blackish-brown, having a blackish-green head, white cheeks and fine transverse crest, as large as a middle-sized fowl.

Apparently a new subgenus of Phasia.n.u.s.

_11th_.--Swallows have now come in here. They are apparently a different species from the Pushut kind.

_12th_.--The large-headed lark has also come in, so that there is a difference of twelve or fourteen days between this part of the country and Pushut, where it was first seen, although this is only 500 feet higher, and about thirteen miles farther north.

The universality of the common crow is curious, especially when contrasted with the circ.u.mscribed locality of Jackdaws. The Indian Jackdaw is never found in hills.

A common plover was brought in yesterday, the wing quills had been taken out, and its gestures on being liberated were most absurd, and although originating from fright, were much allied to pride, its head reclining on its neck, the latter curved, and the feet lifted high into a stately walk, while the crest was disposed in a most supercilious manner.

I have got into great request here as a physician, entirely I apprehend owing to the people's faith in _vilayuti daroo_, or English medicine, especially calomel and cream of tartar, a combination of which has proved an universal panacea.

Goitre is common here, and the place in the hot months is said to be very unhealthy, fever and jaundice carry off numbers of people. The Affghans, strange to say, have no popular medicines, but they are an unintelligent race in many other points. They are aware of bloodletting, which they practise most indiscriminately.

_13th_.--Unsettled weather. Heavy thunderstorm in the evening with clouds over the western range.

_14th_.--Beautifully clear, a genuine spring beauty on all sides.

The common _Maina_ of these parts is a gregarious bird, which feeds generally on the ground, but is rarely a.s.sociated with cattle, to which the Indian species are so addicted: this is an intelligent bird, although from its nature not unnecessarily shy.

It is fond of singing; its notes are very varied, but not very musical, including all sorts of intonations.

While so employed, the bird every now and then bobs his head suddenly down three or four times, much for the same purpose perhaps, as our public singers in the production of certain notes. I do not know whether these actions of the bird are really a.s.sociated with particular notes, although they generally seem to accompany certain very flat and very base notes, not unlike the clerk of a coachman.

The snow is rapidly disappearing, rain having a most powerful effect even at the summit of the pine ridges: it is fast melting, and no new snow has fallen, although it has been raining occasionally during the last three days, and the sun has been altogether obscured.

Generally on the high Kuttoor range, fresh snow has fallen, a proof of the great height of that range.

Two species of Corydalis, the first Iris and Colchic.u.m I had found in Kaffiristan. Corydalis is another a.n.a.logy with the genuine Himalayan Flora.

Jackals were heard here for the first time, although they were heard many days ago at Pushut.

_15th_.--The antilopoid animal called Suja, has horns both on the male and female, it occurs in small herds fifteen to twenty in the wooded mountains, its hair is of the same structure as in the Moschiferus antilope; colour brown. Height to the shoulder two feet six inches; its height does not increase or decrease perceptibly behind; length of neck seven inches. Length of back from root of tail to nape of neck two feet eight inches.

The Lophophorus is called _Moorghi Zureem_, it is a very gorgeously coloured bird, but of heavy make; the tail is always carried erect.

Length of body two feet one inch; the girth of the body at the shoulder including wings, seventeen to eighteen inches. Length of neck from commencement of the crest to the base of the under mandible, five to six inches.

The bird is not uncommon, being found on all the hills about here, and apparently at no great elevations.

_16th_.--The _Ungoor_, Ficus cordifolia is the first tree that buds. The Plata.n.u.s, _Thagur_; Morus coming into flower, vegetation being very rapid.

A captive fox brought in, a fine and a handsome animal, with greyish fur inclining to fuscous on the back, and with blackish points at the back of ears, which are large, and dark-brown; eyes light yellowish-brown.

Measured as follows from:--

Shoulder to base of tail, 1 feet 3 inches.

Shoulder to tip of nose, 1 feet 0 inches.

Height at shoulder, 1 feet 4 inches.

Height at loins, 1 feet 6.5 inches.