DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0202
140
TRAVELS IN TURKISTAN.
to the Amir of Kashghar, anotlier to Muhammad Alum Khan,
the Affghan governor of Balkh and Badakhshan, and a third to
Khodayar Khan of Khokand (the ruler lately driven out hy an
insurrection of the people). The country of Shighnan and
Roshan is sometimes called Zujan (two-lived), its climate and
water being considered so good that a man on entering it is said
to have come into the possession of two lives. Bar Panja, the
capital of Shighnan, containing about 1500 houses, stands on
the left bank, and Wamur, the capital of Roshan, on the right
bank of the Oxus; but the greater portion of both countries
is on the right bank. The Murghab, also known as the Bartang
river, joins the Panja at Wamur, and is there larger in volume
and more rapid in current than the latter. The united
streams retain the name of Panja carried from Wakhan, till
Kolab is reached, after which it is known as the Amu or Hamu.
The Murghab may, however, be considered the largest and
longest of all the affluents of the Oxus. The Suchan, formed
by two large streams, the Shakh-Darrah and the Ghund, joins
the Panja from the east nearly opposite Bar Panja. The men
are great sportsmen, and all, even to the Shah, play on horse-
back at “ chaugan” (the polo of that part), but with larger horses
and longer sticks than are used in Ladak. The ball, moreover,
is a soft leather one. Among the game animals are the Ovis poli,
ibex, and a small antelope. Much wine is made and drunk in tlie
country. It is a red sweet liquor produced from the cherry.
There are now about 4700 houses or families in Shighnan and
Roshan together, but the population is said to have been much
greater in former times. Shighnan and Roshan used to receive
from the Chinese, during their occupation of Eastern Turkistan,
a yearly payment similar to that made to Sirikol, Kunjut, and
TRAVELS IN TURKISTAN.
to the Amir of Kashghar, anotlier to Muhammad Alum Khan,
the Affghan governor of Balkh and Badakhshan, and a third to
Khodayar Khan of Khokand (the ruler lately driven out hy an
insurrection of the people). The country of Shighnan and
Roshan is sometimes called Zujan (two-lived), its climate and
water being considered so good that a man on entering it is said
to have come into the possession of two lives. Bar Panja, the
capital of Shighnan, containing about 1500 houses, stands on
the left bank, and Wamur, the capital of Roshan, on the right
bank of the Oxus; but the greater portion of both countries
is on the right bank. The Murghab, also known as the Bartang
river, joins the Panja at Wamur, and is there larger in volume
and more rapid in current than the latter. The united
streams retain the name of Panja carried from Wakhan, till
Kolab is reached, after which it is known as the Amu or Hamu.
The Murghab may, however, be considered the largest and
longest of all the affluents of the Oxus. The Suchan, formed
by two large streams, the Shakh-Darrah and the Ghund, joins
the Panja from the east nearly opposite Bar Panja. The men
are great sportsmen, and all, even to the Shah, play on horse-
back at “ chaugan” (the polo of that part), but with larger horses
and longer sticks than are used in Ladak. The ball, moreover,
is a soft leather one. Among the game animals are the Ovis poli,
ibex, and a small antelope. Much wine is made and drunk in tlie
country. It is a red sweet liquor produced from the cherry.
There are now about 4700 houses or families in Shighnan and
Roshan together, but the population is said to have been much
greater in former times. Shighnan and Roshan used to receive
from the Chinese, during their occupation of Eastern Turkistan,
a yearly payment similar to that made to Sirikol, Kunjut, and