expelled subsequently by the Khowarazmian princes, but not till they had dwelt sufficiently long to acquire the modern Persian language, which they still speak, with no more alteration than might, from an intercourse with the neighbouring nations, be expected. Neither they nor the Brahooes have a written language, nor, consequently, any history, all their accounts of themselves being merely traditional. From a specimen of the Beloochee language in the Lord's prayer, only 4 words could be found of Sanscrit origin. More than half the words of the Beloochee language are Persian, disguised by a peculiar pronunciation. But Ebn Hawkel, who seems to have written his geographical work about the year 920, affirms that the Afghaun tribes of Cutch and Baluch had already taken possession of the mountains of Mekraun, that they spoke a peculiar language, and that in their barbarous manners and predatory habits they resembled the tribes of the Arabian desert. If this author be correct, his account is fatal to Pottinger's theory, as this fact took place more than a century before the Seljookian Turks crossed the Oxus, and three centuries before their supposed expulsion by the Khowarazmian sultauns to the mountains of Beloochistaun, their present abode. Ebn Hawkel was undoubtedly mistaken in calling them Afghaun tribes; but this does not invalidate his statement, that the Beloochees then possessed the mountains of Mekraun; and he distinguishes them from the nomadic Koordish tribes who then wandered in the deserts of Fars and Kermaun, and amounted to 500,000 families, if his numbers be correct. It is well known that a tribe of Tartar invaders, denominated the Saca, conquered Drangiana, which from them was called Sacastana by Isidore of Charax. Now, may not the Beloochees be the descendants of these invaders, who were driven from it, during the vigorous sway of the Sassanian princes, to the mountains that separate Beloochistaun from Seistaun ? The one theory is as probable as the other; and there can be little doubt but they are of Turco-Tartarian origin, when we reflect how many tribes from the north have successively crossed the Oxus, and settled in Persia. The Brahooes are equally numerous with the Beloochees, and seem equally to be of Tartar descent, and generally dwell in the mountains. They are probably a more ancient race than the Beloochees, and are perhaps the descendants of the Indo-Scythians of the ancients. Their language is different from that of the Beloochees, and is called the Koorgalee tongue. It in no respect resembles the Persian in sound, and contains a great many Hindoo words, having a strong resemblance, as they strike the ear, to the Punjabee dialect. The Dehwaurs are an agricultural race, speak pure Persian, and in all respects resemble the Taujiks of Afghaunistaun. Pottinger conceives them to be he descendants of the ancient Ghubres or Magians. The Mekraunees are the inhabitants of maritime Mekraun, a small, hardy, brave race of men; the women very plain-looking, and almost all of them affected with weak eyes, probably owing to the fine particles of sand from the desert constantly floating in the air. Their language is also modern Persian. The Hindoos are found scattered here and there over the country in small bodies, and over all the eastern world where money is to be made, unless in Japan and China, where strangers universally are excluded. These personages conduct the miserable traffic of the country, and act as moneychangers and agents to the native princes. As the Beloochees are the ruling tribe, both they and the still more numerous Brahooes are exclusively denominated Beloochees. The Beloochees proper are divided into the three principal distinct tribes of Nharrooees, Rinds, and Mugsees; and these

again branch out into a great variety of subordinate tribes,-as Kumburanees, Mingulees, Zukrees, Panderanees, Naharees, Imaum Hoseins, Bezunjas, and others, too numerous to mention. A branch of the Nbarrooees, called Rukhsanee, inhabit the district of Nooshky, the confines of Seistaun, and the district of Bunpoor in northern Mekraun, and have nearly exterminated all the jugdalls, or cultivators of the soil, out of this last-mentioned part of Mekraun. They also dwell in Kutch Gundava, whither they emigrated from Mekraun in villages called Toomauns. These are a tall, hardy race of men, handsome and active, and, without possessing great physical strength, are inured to every species of fatigue, and to every change of climate and season. They are the most ferocious and predatory of all the Beloochee tribes, defy all law, and are restrained by no feelings of humanity. Private theft is esteemed dishonourable, but public robbery is commended as an act of the highest merit. Actuated by such a sentiment, they will individually rehearse and recount the plunder and devastation they have committed,-what numbers of men, women, and children, they have led captive or murdered,-what villages they have burned or plundered,—and what flocks they have slaughtered when unable to drive them off. These lawless incursions are called chupaos, and are conducted in armed bands, under the orders of a chief, or a number of chiefs combined, very similar to the forays of the ancient Highland chiefs. The Brahooes possess all the good qualities of the Beloochees without any alloy of their mischievous propensities. In appearance they seem of a different stock, having neither the tall figure, the long visage, nor raised features of the Beloochees, but possessing short thick bones, round faces, and flat lineaments. They are a quiet and industrious race of men, and their fidelity is such that the Beloochee chiefs retain them as their most confidential servants. Whilst the Beloochees inhabit the plains, and subsist generally by rapine and plunder, the Brahooes, on the contrary, inhabit the mountains, and subsist by their flocks, which yield them cheese and clarified butter, and coarse blankets. Their food is not like that of the Beloochees, onions, garlic, and assafœtida plants stewed in ranced butter, but mutton, which they use half dressed without salt, and which they cure for winter food, by drying it in the sun, and then smoking it over a fire of green wood. They are equal to the Beloochees in personal bravery, and inurement to all the fatigues of life, and the changes of seasons and climate, but they excel them in physical strength. They use the same dress, the same amusements, and the same weapons, as the Beloochees; but their women are not like those of the latter secluded from, but enjoying the society of men, all living and eating together. They also are divided and subdivided into an infinity of tribes and small clans. It is impossible to state the aggregate population of all these tribes of Beloochees and Brahooes, together with the other classes of Jats, Hindoos, Mekraunees, Loorees, and Afghauns. Mr Elphinston estimated the Beloochees, as far as his inquiries could go, at 1,000,000, but thought the statement was much too low. Balbi estimates it collectively at 2,000,000, which appears a more probable estimate than the former; and this is the utmost that can be said on a subject where nothing certain can be obtained. According to a muster-roll possessed by the khaun of Kelaut, the Beloochee army amounts to 250,000 men. But this number is a mere oriental hyperbole, and his present list, as Pottinger was informed, contains 120,000 men, which, in his opinion, is more than double the number he could even raise on a great emergency. The khaun of Kelaut, though exalted in political

statements as the sole ruler of all Beloochístaun, is merely the head despot of many despots over whom he has little efficient power, which only extends to the mountainous territory of Beloochistaun Proper, and the level districts of Cutch Gundava, and Hurrund Daujil, the Iam of Lus, and the chiefs of Mekraun, being independent of him, as the khaun of Bunpoor, and the shah of Puhra. Balbi's statement, therefore, of 150,000 men as the force which the khaun of Kelaut can raise is absurd, as they could neither be paid nor supported in a country like Beloochistaun filled with mountains and deserts, and destitute in a great degree of water. The whole revenue of this mighty political personage amounted, in 1810, to 350,000 rupees, or £47,500 of clear revenue, obtained from Herrund Daujil, Cutch Gundava, and the market dues of Kelaut. There is little internal trade or foreign commerce to pay taxes, which are chiefly levied on land, which, if watered by wells, pays 1-20th, if by rains 1-16th, and if by natural springs still more.

The Beloochees and Brahooes are all professionally Sonnite Moslems, and strenuous enemies of the Sheeahs. The Hindoo natives are mostly of the same faith. The Loorees of Mekraun are the most detestable of the human race for their principle and practices. Their belief is, that man was born to live, to die, and to be forgotten. That during his existence, if he is happy, he has only to pray for its continuance; but, if the contrary, he is at liberty, not only not to pray, but to finish his being by suicide. When any of them dies, every thing that could be called his own, exclusively, whatever that be, is buried with him, in order that this article of their creed may be accomplished respecting his being forgotten. They never marry, the females living promiscuously with the males in an unbounded incestuous commerce. They very seldom have children, and accordingly prefer stealing girls, who are instructed by the force of example. When any woman conceives, the issue is considered the joint property of the community, and initiated at a certain age accordingly. They are a Persian race, and speak a dialect of the Pehlevi or old Persian.

IV. CAUFIREESTAUN.

THIS is entirely a mountainous region on both sides of the Hindookho, and the Beloor Taugh, and therefore partly within the northern boundary of the Afghaun territory, and the southern limits of Baulkh and Badakshaun. We cannot therefore describe it under the heads of Afghaunistaun or Usbec Tartary, though within the natural and political limits of both, referring the one division to the former, and the other to the latter, as it would introduce a sort of indistinctness and confusion into the description. The people of this region are quite a distinct race as to their religion, complexion, and mode of life, from their Afghaun and Tartarian neighbours, and politically independent, at least for the greater part, of both. Both region and people, therefore, require to be described by themselves in a distinct section. This mountainous region extends on both sides of the Hindookho, all the way E. from the Lofty Peak, properly so called, towards the north of Cashmere, but the boundary in that direction is far from being distinctly ascertained. It also occupies a portion of the Beloor Taugh, at the point where these two great ranges meet. As no European, Marco Polo perhaps excepted, who speaks of a race of idolaters in the Beloor Taugh in his route to Cashgaur, has ever set foot within this region, modern geographers were totally ignorant both of the region and people. Its boundaries, generally speaking, for beyond that we cannot

go, are the country of Kaushkaur to the N.E., Badakshaun to the N., the district of Koondooz to the N.W., Anderaub and Khost to the W. in the territory of Baulkh, and on the S. the Kobistaun of Caubul, and the other valleys and ridges of the subalpine region possessed by the Afghaun tribes E. to the Indus. Beyond that point is mere conjecture.

Historical Remarks.] There can be little doubt that the southern part of this region corresponds to the mountains of the Lambata, which Ptolemy extends to those of the Comedi, which may perhaps correspond to the region of Kaushkaur. The whole region is called Caufireestaun, or the land of infidels,' by the Mohammedan writers, because these mountaineers never received the Mussulmaun faith. The first European writer who mentions it under this appellation seems to have been Benoit Goes, a Romish missionary, who in 1603 travelled from Attock to Caubul. He was informed at Peshawer that a region called Caphurstan lay a month's journey to the N. of that place, and that it was full of Christians, but he was hindered by the caravan from passing through it. It is probable the good father believed the inhabitants of that region to be Christians from its name, not adverting that it is an appellation bestowed on Pagan as well as Christian countries. The next appellation by which it was known to Europeans was that of Ketuer or Kuttore in the history of Timoor Bek, by La Croix, in 1723. The inhabitants are there denominated Sceapoushes, or black vests,' from the colour of their clothes. Timoor was instigated by the Mussulmaun inhabitants of Anderaub to undertake an expedition against these idolaters, as they exacted great sums of money from them under the name of tribute. Baber describes Caufireestaun as lying to the N.E. of Caubul, and in his time the districts of Punjsheer, Nijrow, Alishung, Alunkaur, Chuganserai, Cooner, Noorgil, Bijore, Sewad, and Booneer, were bounded immediately behind by the Caufirs, and the inhabitants of Punjsheer were happy to pay them a fixed contribution to be saved from indiscriminate plunder. The Caufirs, however, had made an inroad into that district, killed many of the inhabitants, and committed extensive ravages, after Baber had fixed his residence in Delhi. Since that time, though the southern borders of Canfireestaun have been often ravaged during the vigorous reigns of Akbar and Aurangzebe, yet the Caufirs have still maintained their independence amidst their almost impenetrable mountains. As Goes was informed that they were infidels, and therefore thought them to be Christians, so from like ignorance they were believed by some to be Greeks, just as Abul Fazl believed the people of Bijore to be the descendants of the Macedonians who followed Alexander the Great. The celebrated Gibbon having conjectured the Greeks of Bactria to have instructed their neighbours, the Tartars and Indians, in science and the arts of civilized life, so much credit was attached to it that when the British embassy was at Peshawer it was no small part of their business to inquire after these supposed instructors of the east and the north. To their great mortification they found that the supposed Macedonians of Bijore were an Afghaun tribe, but heard that the Caufirs in many points resembled the Greeks, as being beautiful, having European complexions, worshipping idols, drinking wine in silver vases, using chairs and tables, and speaking an unknown tongue. Curiosity was now wound up to its acme, and the discovery of a Greek colony subsisting for more than twenty centuries sequestered amidst the loftiest mountains of Asia, was joyfully anticipated. Every inquiry that could be possibly made, was employed to ascertain the fact, and a messenger was

despatched by Mr Elphinston to investigate the language and character of the Caufirs. Expectation so highly excited was followed by proportionate disappointment, and the Caufirs were discovered to be a mere rude race of independent Pagan mountaineers, having no feature of resemblance to the Greeks but that of personal beauty. A vocabulary of their language was obtained by the messenger, who made himself master of every thing connected with Mr Elphinston's inquiries; and it is from his report, connected with the information of others who had visited the country, and that of a young Caufir who was interrogated at Peshawer by Elphinston, that the following abstract was drawn up of the Caufirs and their country. Geographical Sketch.] The whole country is composed of snowy mountains, deep pine forests, and small but fertile valleys, which produce large quantities of grapes wild and cultivated, and feed flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, whilst the hills are pastured with goats. Grain is inferior both in kind and quantity. The roads are fit only for men on foot, and are often crossed by rivers and torrents passed by wooden bridges or swinging bridges made of ropes. All the villages that the messenger saw are built on the slopes of hills, so that the roof of one house forms the street leading to the other above it, which is said to be the constant practice of the country. The valleys are well peopled, that of the Caumojee tribe containing 10 villages at least, and the chief of these, Caumdaish, within three stages of Fyzabad, capital of Badakshaun, consists of 500 houses. The people have no general name for their nation. Each tribe has its peculiar name, not according to genealogy, but to geographical position, each valley being held by a particular tribe. Caufirs and Caufireestaun are the general appellations bestowed by the Mussulman on all the people and their country. One division of them, as we have already mentioned, is denominated Sceapoushes, or 6 black vests,' and Tor Caufirs, or 'black infidels,' and another division, Speen Caufirs, or 'white infidels.' Both epithets are taken from their dress, for all the Caufirs are remarkable for the fairness and beauty of their complexion, but those of the larger division wear a vest of black goat's skin, whilst the other dresses in white cotton. There are several languages or rather dialects among the Caufirs, all having many words in common, and a near connexion with the Shanscrit, which renders their conjectured Greek origin utterly improbable. Nor do their traditions give any satisfactory account of their origin. They say that they originally dwelt in the vicinity of Candahar, whence they were expelled by the Mohammedans, at which time their nation consisted of four tribes, the 4th of which, named Caumojee, retained its ancient rites, whilst the other three were converted to the Mussulman faith. One peculiarity is, that all the Caufirs count by scores instead of hundreds, and that their thousand (which they call by the Persian and Afghaun name) consists of 400 or twenty score. The same is the case with the Lumghaunees and Deggauns, whose language seems to be a Caufir dialect, and gives ground to suppose them to be of Caufir origin. Elphinston, indeed, seems to think all the inhabitants of the Kobistaun of Caubul to be converted Caufirs, as the appellation of Kohistaunees is applied to all the converted Caufirs. There is a Caufir tribe called Pusha by Moollah Nujub, which lives on the frontier of Caubul, and Baber mentions the Pushawee as one of the languages of Caubul, and the Pushawees are still found within the Kohistaun of Caubul. Their religion differs from all others with which we are acquainted. They believe in one God, called Imra by the Caufirs of Caumdaish, and Dagun by