DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0114
EXTEACT PROM PREFACE TO PART I.
As several years have passed since the publication of Part I. of Dardistan, an extract
from its Preface may be useful in explaining tbe nature of the work on which I am engaged.
" The first volume " The races and languages of Dardistan,." was composed under considerable
difficulties. The Punjab Government could only afford m,e leave for the " Special Mission" on
which I was deputed, between the 6th of August and the 20th of October 1866'. [ Kashmir I
had visited in 1865 and again in 1866". Ladak, &c.,. I had also already visited.,"]' During that
period I had to mate generally two, and sometimes three,, marches- a day, [from 15 to-35 miles]
mostly on foot, over mountainous country, a portion of which was the scene of frontier war-
fare. I found that the ferocity of the people of Dardistan-had been exaggerated', but moving
on unknown soil, I had to take every precaution, Three weeks also of the short leave which' I
had were devoted to searching after the remains of my friend Mr. H. Cowie, who, together
with two followers, had perished on a tour through Ladak &c, which I had terminated on the
1st of July of the same year. I may, however, say that whatever my contribution to philolo-
gical science may be worth I literally never wasted a single waking hour during my tour. Sur-
rounded by enemies, often thirsty, hungry and without shelter, I endeavoured to acquire from
semi-savages what have hitherto been [with the exception of a few words] entirely unknown
languages. The Dardus have no written character: After acquiring the most necessary words
I used to put simple questions to my new acquaintances and endeavour to elicit the Gram-
matical forms which I required in their replies. I need not dwell on the many disappointments
which this endeavour entailed. .Often when almost certain of a particular tense &c. &c, I would
discover that my informants had either mistaken the question, been unable to answer it or had in
reply made use of an idiom. Two Shins accompanied me to the Punjab where they stayed for
a few months and to this circumstances I owe the correction of the Shina portion of the book.
(Since then another Gilgiti, four Kafirs and two Ghikisis have entered my service). Oh the
whole, I am inclined to think that by far the greater portion of.the book is correct. The
arrangement, I am aware, is not systematic throughout, but I would beg my critics to remember
that, even such as. it is, it is a great improvement on- the scattered Memos likely to be made by a
traveller in those regions. Scarcely back from, the tour I found myself in the midst of work.
Fully occupied by official, editorial and other literary duties it is not to be wondered at that the
present work exhibits some signs of a hasty performance................
The spelling adopted in this book is generally as in German, but in consequence of wnni
of sufficient or proper type the following signs:—, A or ' have often been made to do service for
one another.* T may state that " th" "ph"'!kh" are always to be read diacritically.: [ ]
encloses either the sentence in which the particular word referred to is contained or is a doubtful
word. Signs of interrogation either mean that the word is very doubtful or that the explana-
tion will be found further on."
* Indeed- there are not enough. '•' sighs■" at the Lahore presses to accentuate all the words and I must, therefore^,
postpone the publicat.oa of an accurate edition to a possible future of literary ease in Exirope.
As several years have passed since the publication of Part I. of Dardistan, an extract
from its Preface may be useful in explaining tbe nature of the work on which I am engaged.
" The first volume " The races and languages of Dardistan,." was composed under considerable
difficulties. The Punjab Government could only afford m,e leave for the " Special Mission" on
which I was deputed, between the 6th of August and the 20th of October 1866'. [ Kashmir I
had visited in 1865 and again in 1866". Ladak, &c.,. I had also already visited.,"]' During that
period I had to mate generally two, and sometimes three,, marches- a day, [from 15 to-35 miles]
mostly on foot, over mountainous country, a portion of which was the scene of frontier war-
fare. I found that the ferocity of the people of Dardistan-had been exaggerated', but moving
on unknown soil, I had to take every precaution, Three weeks also of the short leave which' I
had were devoted to searching after the remains of my friend Mr. H. Cowie, who, together
with two followers, had perished on a tour through Ladak &c, which I had terminated on the
1st of July of the same year. I may, however, say that whatever my contribution to philolo-
gical science may be worth I literally never wasted a single waking hour during my tour. Sur-
rounded by enemies, often thirsty, hungry and without shelter, I endeavoured to acquire from
semi-savages what have hitherto been [with the exception of a few words] entirely unknown
languages. The Dardus have no written character: After acquiring the most necessary words
I used to put simple questions to my new acquaintances and endeavour to elicit the Gram-
matical forms which I required in their replies. I need not dwell on the many disappointments
which this endeavour entailed. .Often when almost certain of a particular tense &c. &c, I would
discover that my informants had either mistaken the question, been unable to answer it or had in
reply made use of an idiom. Two Shins accompanied me to the Punjab where they stayed for
a few months and to this circumstances I owe the correction of the Shina portion of the book.
(Since then another Gilgiti, four Kafirs and two Ghikisis have entered my service). Oh the
whole, I am inclined to think that by far the greater portion of.the book is correct. The
arrangement, I am aware, is not systematic throughout, but I would beg my critics to remember
that, even such as. it is, it is a great improvement on- the scattered Memos likely to be made by a
traveller in those regions. Scarcely back from, the tour I found myself in the midst of work.
Fully occupied by official, editorial and other literary duties it is not to be wondered at that the
present work exhibits some signs of a hasty performance................
The spelling adopted in this book is generally as in German, but in consequence of wnni
of sufficient or proper type the following signs:—, A or ' have often been made to do service for
one another.* T may state that " th" "ph"'!kh" are always to be read diacritically.: [ ]
encloses either the sentence in which the particular word referred to is contained or is a doubtful
word. Signs of interrogation either mean that the word is very doubtful or that the explana-
tion will be found further on."
* Indeed- there are not enough. '•' sighs■" at the Lahore presses to accentuate all the words and I must, therefore^,
postpone the publicat.oa of an accurate edition to a possible future of literary ease in Exirope.