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JULY, 1914 ]
THE PAHARI LANGUAGE
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The Markandeya Purana (LVII, 56) mentions the Khasas As a mountain (probably Himalayan) tribe. In three other places (LVIII, 7, 12 and 51) they have apparently, with the Sakas and other tribes, penetrated to the north-east of India. This would appear to show that by the time of the composition of this work the Khaías had already reached Nepal and Darjeeling, where they are still a numerous body:37
We may close this group of authorities by a reference to the Laws of Manu. Looking at the Khasas from the Brahmanical point of view, he says (X, 22) that Kha-as are the Offspring of outcast Kshatriyas, and again (X, 44), after mentioning some south Indian tribes he says that Kimbājas,88 Yavanas,38 Sakas, 38 Paradas,38 Pahlavas,88 Chinas 39 Kiratas, o Daradas38 and Khasas are those who became outcast through having neglected their religious duties, 41 and, whether they speak a barbarous (Mlêchchha) or Aryan language, are called Dasyus. Here again we see the Khasas grouped with people of the north-west.
Two works belonging at latest to the 6th century A.D. next claim our attention. These are the Bharata Nadya Sastra and the Brihat Salihita of Varahamihira. The former12 in the chapter on dialects says, The Bahliki language is the native tongue of Northerners and Khalas. Bahlíki, as we have seen above, is the language then spoken in what is now Balkh.43 Here again we have the Khasas referred to the north-west.
Varahamihira mentions Khabas several times. Thus in one place (X, 12) he groups them with Kulatas (people of Kulu), Tangaņas (see notett), and Kasmiras (Kishmiris). In his famous chapter on Geography, he mentions them twice. In one place (XIV, 6) he puts them in Eastern India, and in another (XIV, 30) he puts them in the north-east. The latter is a mistake, for the other countries named at the same time are certainly northwestern. The mistake is a curious and unexpected one, but is there nevertheless, and
37 Vide post. 38 See above.
30 Usually translated Chinese,' but I would suggest that in this and similar passages, they are the great Ship race, still surviving in Gilgit and the vicinity.
40 At present mostly in Nepal. 41 So Kullaka.
42 xvii, 52. Bahlikabhashôdichyánari Khasanam cha sada saja : I am indebted to Dr. Konow for this reference,
13 Lakshmidhara, a comparatively late Prakrit Grammarian, says that the language of Bahlika (Balkh), Kékaya (N. W. Panjab), Nepal, Gandhara (the country round Peshwar), and Bhota (for Bhóta, i.e., Tibet), together with certain countries in South India is said by the ancients to have been Pai achi See Lassen, Institutiones Lingue Pracriticæ, p. 13, and Pischel, Grammatik der Prakrit-Sprachen, $ 27.
44 The whole passage (29 and 30) runs as follows in North East, Mount Meru, the Kingdom of those who have lost caste (nashtardjya), the nomads (pasupdas, worshippers of Pa apati), the Kiras (a tribe noar Kashmir, Stein, Raja Taraigivi, trans. II, 217) the Ka miras, the Abhisäras (of the lower b:lle between the Jehlam and the Chinab), Daradas (Darda) Targapas, Kulatas (Kulu), Sairindhras (not identified), Forest men, Brahmapuras (Bharmaur in Chamba), Darvas (close to Abhisira), Dâmaras (apparently a Kashmir tribe, Stein II, 304 f.), Foresters, Kirâtas, Chinas (Shins of Gilgit, see note, or Chinese), Kaupindas (see below), Bhallas (not identified), Patolas (not identified), Jutasuras (? Jatts), Kunatas (see below), Khasas, Ghoshas and Kuchikas (not identified)." It will be seen that every one of the above names which has been identified belongs to the North-West.
