DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0199
CHAP. in. ISKARDO.- THE KAFFIRS.
183
Baltee or Little Tibet, and bears the name of
Iskardo. The principal place of the same name is
a large fort of irregular construction, which is built
on the banks of the Indus, and is said to be but
eight marches north-east of the city of Cashmere.
The country is independent.
On the south-eastern corner of Budukhshan, and
on the mountains between it and Peshawur, we find
that extraordinary people, the Siahposh Kaffirs, or
Black-vested Infidels, so called by their Mahomme-
dan neighbours, from their wearing black goat-skin
dresses. This race is entirely confined to the
mountains, and persecuted by all the surrounding
nations, who seek to capture them as slaves. The
chief of Koonclooz made an inroad upon them some
years since, and lost half of his army in the cam-
paign. I can offer no further addition to the notice
of their religion and country, than is to be found in
Mr. Elphinstone's work, though I met the worthy
and faithful man Moollah Nujeeb, who was sent
into Kaffiristan for the purposes of inquiry. I had
much conversation with people who had been
brought into contact with them, and in Cabool was
fortunate enough to see a Kaffir boy about ten years
old, who had only left his country for two years;
his complexion, hair, and features, differed from
those of Asiatics : his eyes were of a bluish colour.
The boy replied to many questions that were put
to him about his country, and gave specimens of his
language, which assimilated with the Indian dialects.
The Kaffirs appear to be a most barbarous people,
n 4
183
Baltee or Little Tibet, and bears the name of
Iskardo. The principal place of the same name is
a large fort of irregular construction, which is built
on the banks of the Indus, and is said to be but
eight marches north-east of the city of Cashmere.
The country is independent.
On the south-eastern corner of Budukhshan, and
on the mountains between it and Peshawur, we find
that extraordinary people, the Siahposh Kaffirs, or
Black-vested Infidels, so called by their Mahomme-
dan neighbours, from their wearing black goat-skin
dresses. This race is entirely confined to the
mountains, and persecuted by all the surrounding
nations, who seek to capture them as slaves. The
chief of Koonclooz made an inroad upon them some
years since, and lost half of his army in the cam-
paign. I can offer no further addition to the notice
of their religion and country, than is to be found in
Mr. Elphinstone's work, though I met the worthy
and faithful man Moollah Nujeeb, who was sent
into Kaffiristan for the purposes of inquiry. I had
much conversation with people who had been
brought into contact with them, and in Cabool was
fortunate enough to see a Kaffir boy about ten years
old, who had only left his country for two years;
his complexion, hair, and features, differed from
those of Asiatics : his eyes were of a bluish colour.
The boy replied to many questions that were put
to him about his country, and gave specimens of his
language, which assimilated with the Indian dialects.
The Kaffirs appear to be a most barbarous people,
n 4