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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY 5, 1872.
the game with great excitement and at the risk of casualties. The first day I was at Astor, I had the greatest difficuity in restor- ing to his senses a youth of the name of Rustem Ali who, like a famous player of the same name at Mardo, was passionately fond of the game, and had been thrown from his horse. The place of meeting near Astor is called the 'Idgah. The game is called Tope in Astor, and the grounds for playing it are called SHAJARAN. At Ghilgit the game is called BULLA, and the place SHAWARAN. The latter names are evidently of Tibetan origin.
The people are also very fond of target practice, shooting with bows, which they use dexterously, but in which they do not excel the people of Nagyr and Hunza. Game is much stalked during the winter. At Astor any game shot on the three principal hills—Tshhamo, a high hill opposite the fort, Demidelden and Tshólokol-belongs to the Nawab of Astor (the sportsman receiving only the head, legs and a haunch) or to his representive, now the Tahsildar Munshi Rozi Khan. At Ghilgit everybody claims what he may have shot, but it is customary for the Nawab to receive some share of it. Men are especially appointed to watch and track game, and when they discover their whereabouts notice is sent to the villages from which parties issue, accompanied by musicians, and surround the game. Early in the morning, when the "Lóhe" dawns, the musicians begin to play and a great noise is made, which frightens the game into the several directions where the sportsmen are placed.
The guns are matchlocks and are called in Ghilgiti turmal and in Astor trmak At Ghilgit they manufacture the guns themselves or receive them from Badakhshan. The balls have only a slight coating of lead, the inside generally being a little stone. The people of Hanza and Nagyr invariably place their guns on. little wooden pegs, which are permanently fixed to the guin and are called dugaza The guns are much lighter than those manufactured elsewhere, much shorter, and carry much smaller bullets than the matchlock of the Mahárája's troops. They carry very much farther than any native Indian gun, and are fired with almost unnerring accuracy. For "small shot" little stones of any shape the longest and oval ones being preferr
ed—are used. There is one kind of stone especially which is much used for that purpose ; it is called “ Balósh Batt," which is found in Hanza, Nagyr, Skardo, and near the Demidelden hill already noticed, at a village called Pareshinghi near Astor. It is a very soft stone, and large cooking utensils are cut out from it, whence the name," balósh" kettle, “batt" stone," Balósh Batt." The stone is cut out with a chisel and hammer ; the former is called " Gútt" in Astori and "Gukk," in Ghilghiti; the hammer toá" and "tot shúng," and in Ghilgiti " samdenn." The gunpowder is manufactured by the people themselves.*
The people also play at backgammon, [called in Astori Patshiis, and Takk in Ghilgiti,] with dice called in Astori and also in Ghilgiti dall.]
Fighting with iron wristbands is confined to the Childsi women, who bring them over their fists, which they are said to use with effect.
The people are also fond of wrestling, of butting each other whilst hopping &c.*
To play the Jew's harp is considered meritorious, as King David played it. All other music good Musalmans are bid to avoid.
The “Sitara" [the Eastern Guitar] is said to be much played in Yassen, the people of which country, as well as of Hunza and Nagyr excel in dancing, singing and playing. After them come the Ghilgitis, then the Astoris, Chilasis &c., &c. The people of Nagyr are a comparatively mild race. They carry on goldwashing, which is constantly interrupted by kidnapping parties from the opposite Hunza. The language of Nagyr and Yassen is the Non-Aryan Khajuns, and no affinity between that language and any other has yet been traced, The Nagyris are mostly Shiahs. They are short and stout, and fairer than the people of Hunza [the Kunjutis] who are described as “tall skeletons," and are desperate robbers. The Nagyris understand Tibetan, Persian and Hindustani. Badakhshan merchants are the only ones who can travel with perfect safety though Yassen, Chitral and Hunza.
Dances fall into two main Divisions : slow or “ Búti Harip" Slow Instrument, and quick “ Danni Harip," =Quick Instrument. The
Powder" is callel Jebati in Astort, and in Ghllgitt Blen, which is in both clialeet, also the word used for medicinal powder, It is mnile of sulphur, salt petre and coal. Sulphur = tantzil.Salpetre - Mhór in Astorl, and shora in Ghilgiti. Coal kari The general rojortion of the composition 19, as my in-
e bore proportions to superly beleted Sulphure someone
formant put it, after dividing the whole into all and a half parts to give 6 of saltpetre, 1 of coal, and of Sulphur. Some put less coal in,but it is generally believed that more than the above proportion of sulphur would make the powder too explosive.
