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10
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY 5, 1872.
(where a separate vault is made for it) for Maháraja's troops when invading Ghilgit often the same period. The orifice is almost hermeti- suffered severely from want of food, when, uncally closed with a skin. After twelve days the known to them, large stores of grain of every jar is opened and contains a drink possessing kind, -butter,ghi, &c., were buried close to them. intoxicating qualities. The first infusion is much The Ghilgitis and other so-called rebels, generally, prized, but the corn receives a second and some- were well off, knowing where to go for food. times even a third supply of water, to be put Even in subject Astor, it is the custom to lay up out again in a similar manner and to provide a provisions in this manner. On the day of birth kind of Beer for the consumer. This Beer is of any one in that country, it is the custom to called " Mo." and is much drunk by the Astoris bury a stock of provisions, which are opened on and Chilasis(the latter are rather stricter Mus- the day of betrothal of the young man and distrisulmans than the other Shina people.) After buted. The ghi, which by that time turns frightall strength has been taken out of the corn fully sour and to our taste) unpalatable, and the it is given away as food to sheep, &c., which they
colour of which is red, is esteemed a great de-. find exceedingly nourishing.
licacy, and is said to bring much luck. Wine. The Ghilgitis are great wine-drinkers, The chalk used for cementing the stones is though not so much so as the people of Hunza. called " San batt." Grapes are called "Jach," In Nagyr little wine is made. The mode of and are said, together with wine, to have been preparation of the wine is a simple one. The
the principal food of Ghazanfar, the Raja of grapes are stamped out by a man who, for
Hunza, of whom it is reported that when he tunately before entering into the wine press, heard of the arrival of the first European in washes his feet and hands. The juice flows Astor (probably Vigne) he fled to a fort called into another reservoir, which is first well laid | Gojal and shut himself up in it with his round with stones, over which & cement is put of flocks, family and retainers. He had been told chalk mixed with sheep-fat which is previously that the European was a great sorcerer, who heated. The juice is kept in this reservoir ; the carried an army with him in his trunks, and who top is closed, cement being put round the sides, had serpents at his command that stretched and only in the middle an opening is made over themselves over any river in his way to afford which a loose stone is placed. After two or him a passage. I found this reputation of Eurothree months the reservoir is opened, and the pean sorcery of great use, and the wild mounwine is used at meals and festivals. In Dareyl taineers looked with respect and awe on a little (and not in Ghilgit, as was told to Vigne,) the box which I carried with me, and which contained custom is to sit round the grave of the deceased some pictures of clowns and soldiers belonging and eat grapes, nuts, and Tshilgoxas (edible to a small magic lantern. The Ghilgitis consider pine). In Astor and in Chiláş ?) the custom the use of wine as unlawful ; probably it is not is to put a number of Ghi (clarified butter) very long since they have become so religious cakes before the Mulla, (when the earth has been and drink it with remorse. My Ghigitis told me put on the deceased) who, after reading that the Muyulli- sect living in Hunza, Gojal, prayers over them, distributes them to the Yassen and Punyaconsidered the use of wine company who are standing round with their with prayers to be rather meritorious than othercaps on. In Ghilgit, three days after the burial, wise. A drunkard is called " Máto." bread is generally distributed to the friends and
(C.) BIRTH CEREMONIES. acquaintances of the deceased. To return to As soon as a child is born, the father or the the wine presses, it is to be noticed that no one Mulla repeat the “bâng" in his ear" Allah ever interferes with the store of another. I Akbar" (which an Astori, of the name of Mirza passed several of them on my road from Cha- Khan, said was never again repeated in one's kerkot onward, but they appeared to have been life !). Three days, after the reading of the destroyed. This brings me to another custom “bâng" or " namáz" in Ghilgit, and seven days which all the Dards seem to have of burying pro- after that ceremony in Astor, a large company visions of every kind in cellars that are scooped assembles, when the father or grand-father out in the mountains or near their houses, and of of the newborn child gives him a name, or which they alone have any knowledge. The the Mulla fixes on a name by putting his
• Wine is called in Ghigit by the same name as beer is by the Astoris, vis "MO" The wine press called "Moe Kurr." The reservoir into which it flows li called "Moe San,"
