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Porakh territory, there is another stream of nearly the same size. From the limits of Kartákhshá to Ladákh, a light kasid can travel in seven days; but a traveller with baggage requires ten days to make the journey. Fifth, the district of Karkes, which is held by YAQUB KHAN, one of the AHMAD SHA'H's relations. Karkes is bounded on three sides by the Iskárdoh district, and on the fourth, or eastern side, by Chílú, which was originally included within the government of Iskárdoh; but about three years ago, the chief of it, named MEHDI KHÁN, revolted and setting the authority of the ruler of Iskárdoh at defiance, has entered into an alliance with the Gelpo" or ruler of Ladakh. As the Governor of Chílú is married to a niece of AHMAD SHAH, the ruler of Iskárdoh is restrained by considerations of delicacy from attacking and reducing him to obedience. district of Chilú lies five days' journey distant to the east of Iskárdoh : and from Chilú, the Ladakh frontier is only one day's journey. Sixth, the district of Nagar is situated in the hills, about seven days' journey to the north-west of Iskárdoh, and constitutes the Jagír of FIROZ SHAH, a dependent of AHMAD SHAH. From the town of Nagar to Sirakol is eight days' journey, and from Sirakol to Yárqand is the same distance. Seventh, the district of Randoh, the Jagír of ALI KHÁN, the nephew of AHMAD SHAH, which is reported to be much less elevated than other parts of the country, and the climate and productions to partake of the difference in elevation. It is famous for grapes, and also produces rice, figs, and pomegranates, which are not found in other parts of the country. Formerly, it was subject to the authority of AHMAD SHAH's ancestors; but it was wrested from them during a period of anarchy by the chief of Gilget, in whose possession it now remains. Beyond the fort of Randoh a journey of five days' is the territory of Gilget, in the possession of SULIMAN SHAH. Eighth, the district of Hazúra is the Jagír of the son of the ruler of Iskárdoh, and is bounded by Kashmir on the south.

City of Iskárdoh.-The city of Iskárdoh appears to be situated in a valley of some extent. It is built on an isolated hill, bounded on two sides by the river Indus.

From the south, the ascent by the road is about two and a half kos. On the summit of the hill is the fort supposed to have been erected by ALEXANDER the GREAT. It is now merely used as a citadel or station for a guard of soldiers. The residence of the ruler, together with some habitations belonging to his relations and dependents, is situated on a projection of the hill about half way from the top. At its base runs the river, and on the other side of the river, about a kos and a half distant, lies another isolated hill, which is called Barkh Kharah ; beyond which, in the same direction,

to Baraldoh, three days' journey from the capital, the country in general is of a level description. To the south of the city there is a plain about seven or eight kos in extent, which is covered with cultivation and gardens. The other two sides of the hill of Iskárdoh are chiefly occupied by the population of the city, and the aspect of the country for a day's journey in those directions also is open and well cultivated. Fortified places.-There are several fortified places within the limits of the Iskárdoh territory; some are situated on the frontiers, and others in the interior parts. Every fort has a separate jurisdiction. The fort of Iskárdoh has already been described. It is called by the natives That Iskárdoh and Kharpúcheh, which means the chief fort. At a distance of half a day's journey to the south of Iskárdoh lies the fort of Shakar. Shakar is the chief town of any note in the province next to Iskárdoh. It is situated in a narrow and well-cultivated valley, about 13 miles long. The hill itself is about 500 paces high. There are several hills in its vicinity but none of the same height. The fort is supplied with water from the foot of the hill. There is a stream running through the valley of Shakar, from the bed of which the people collect gold, the quality of which is stated to be superior to that which is found in any other part of the country. At the eastern end of this valley is a hot spring, where the Gelpo has formed a residence, to which he occasionally resorts. Kartakhshá is also a fort of some note. It is situated on the Indus, in the vicinity of some high hills. The country about it is said to be rugged and difficult, and the fort itself to be a place of some strength and importance, from its situation on the Ladákh frontier.

Population, character, and habits of the people.-No correct estimate can be formed of the population of the country. It is said to amount to three lakhs of families, which in all probability greatly exceeds the actual number. The people are divided into several different tribes, but they are generally known by the name of Baldi. Among them there is a tribe called Kerah, the members of which are enjoined by their religious laws to follow four ordinances, viz. first, to destroy their female infants; second, not to tell falsehoods ; third, not to desert their party in the day of battle; fourth, not to slander any one. The natives are described to be of a phlegmatic disposition, like other Tibetan tribes*. They are a stout, well-made race of people, with ruddy complexions and good features; but have

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* Asiatic physiologists maintain the opinion, that the temperament of man is affected by the nature of the animal or vegetable production on which he feeds and the phlegmatic character of the inhabitants of little Tibet is accordingly ascribed to barley, millet, and fruits, being their chief articles of food.

little hair on their body, and scarcely any beard. It is said, they are deficient in enterprise, and of a treacherous and designing disposition. Barley, wheat, and flesh are the chief articles of food; rice is not generally used. All those who can afford it are in the habit of drinking tea at their breakfast, and in the course of the day, it is usual with them, as with their neighbours of Ladákh, to greet their visitors with a cup of tea. The use of this luxury is becoming more general than it was, though it bears a high price. There is little variation in the dress of the people from their neighbours of Ladakh. The wealthy classes generally wear qábas, (a kind of coat, with skirted margin all round,) and caps, &c.; while the dress of the peasantry consists of jamahs, (another kind of coat, formerly much used in India.) It resembles the vest worn by the Indian dancing girls, and is made of pattú, which is manufactured both of a coarse and fine quality, from goat's wool. They wear caps of the same stuff*. Cotton is not produced here. It is imported from Yarqand to Kashmir, but very few people shew a desire to wear cotton clothes. Their houses are mostly made of layers of stones and wood, with flat roofs, and are two or three stories high, with far projecting roofs, somewhat similar to those on the southern face of the Himálaya range.

Religion, language, and means of exchange.-The common religion of the people is Muhammedan, of the Shia sect, and the followers of the Imám JáFAR; but towards Gilget, there is a race of people which does not seem to possess any well-defined religious system: some of them are idolators, and worship trees; while others, like the Hindús, do not eat the flesh of kine, and yet profess to be Muhammedans. Tibetan is the common language of the country, but the people have no books in it. They are beyond the influence of the Lámas, and receive their education, which is exclusively confined to the chiefs and priesthood, in Persian. They have no system of coinage in the shape of rupees, pice, or kourís. The only means of exchange known among them is in small pieces of unwrought gold, which is found in the country both in mines and in the beds of rivers.

Government, military establishment, and revenue.-The government of Iskárdoh is absolute, but the ruler АHмmad Sháн, who claims his descent from JOSEPH the prophet of the Israelites, is mild and benevolent; his title is Ergh mayúm, signifying the Lord of the mountains; but among his people he is called "Gelpo," or king, and his tributaries and petty chiefs, Ju. He usually resides in the fort of Iskárdoh. It

* It is not customary to milk the goat in this country, which is supposed to add to the softness of the wool.

is asserted, that the dynasty of the present ruler has been in uninterrupted possession of the country for the last 14 generations. He does not owe allegiance to any foreign state, being subject to none in tribute or service; but the Sikhs have attempted to extend their conquests beyond Kashmir in that direction, which has tended to excite his alarm and jealousy. There is no standing army; the troops of AHMAD SHAH consist of his vassals. They are landed proprietors, who receive no regular pay, but are exempted from taxation in requital of military service. Whenever an exigency occurs to render the collection of a force necessary, the ruler calls out the peasantry of the country, and forms them into a sort of militia. He provides them with arms and ammunition, so long as they may be kept embodied; and when the occasion for their services is over, they are disarmed and dismissed. The revenue of the state is collected in kind in the following form :—one kharwar of wheat, one of barley, and one of mustard or millet are levied from each landholder. Some of the zemindars pay their rents in one kharwár of ghí each, instead of the other three articles. A kharwár is about 40 seers in weight.

Extension of Sikh conquests in the direction of Iskárdoh.—Lying between Kashmir and Iskárdoh, there is a small territory called Kathaí. About seven years ago, KIRPá Rám, the Governor of Kashmír, sent a force of 500 men to erect a fort there. The Muzaffarábád chief, of whom it was subject, opposed the design; but KIRPá Rám persisting in his object, an action ensued, in which the Sikhs were defeated, 200 of them were killed and wounded, and the rest taken prisoners, who were converted to Muhammedanism. After the action, the chief of Muzaffarábád advanced to Bará mulá, and reduced the Sikhs to take refuge in the fort at that place; but he was soon obliged to retire. The Sikhs being reinforced, renewed the attack, and ultimately established their authority in Kathaí.

Connexion with the Chinese frontier.-The northern limits of Iskárdoh are connected with the Chinese frontier. There are known to be three great tribes among the people of China: one of them is called Manchu, from which the royal family is descended; another Kara Khatai, (implying black-colored,) which inhabits the eastern part of the Chinese empire; the third, Tingani: these are Muhammedans, and occupy the country on its western frontier.

State of the north-western provinces of China, with an account of the origin and progress of the insurrection which broke out in 1827, to subvert the Chinese authority in that quarter.—Kashghar, Yárqand, Khotan, Axu, Ilah, and the country of the Sarah Nashin, generally called

Kalmaks, as well as five or six other extensive tracts of territory formerly belonged to the Turkmáns. A long time ago the Emperor of China invaded these places with a large army, and seized them from the Khojan, who was then in possession of the government, and exercised both a temporal and spiritual authority over his people. In the course of the war, many of the Turkmán chiefs, as well as the Khojan himself, fell into the hands of the Chinese, and were put to death ; while the rest of the royal family, among which was the eldest son of the Khojan, who took the title of his father, sought an asylum with the ruler of Indajan, where they remained waiting a favorable opportunity to recover their country. The Emperor of China offered 700 Zambus, (silver ingots, weighing about 150 Rs. each,) to the Indajan chief, if he would prevent the escape of the Khojans. About three years ago, when the Khojan was still at Indajan, the Chinese force stationed on the frontier was withdrawn towards the Kara Khatai country. When the Khojan heard of the departure of these troops, the ruler of Indajan let him loose, and the Khojan collecting a party to Kirkpiz, whence he sent a man to Kashghar, to ascertain the disposition of the people, they replied that the Chinese force had gone to Kara Khatai, and he had only to come and possess himself of the whole country. According to their invitation, the Khojan marched towards Kashghar, where, no sooner had the Khojan made his appearance, than the people declared in his favor, and rose against the Chinese, about 8000 of whom were sacrificed to their fury. The Aubu or Chinese governor of the province destroyed himself by gun-powder. As soon as the news of the occupation of Kashghar by the Khojan reached the ear of the governor of Yárqand, he announced the event to the Emperor, by means of lighted balloons, which were set off and repeated at every stage, until the information reached its destination. The Emperor returned a reply in the same way. This mode of conveying intelligence was never adopted by the Chinese authorities. The Khojan succeeded in recovering Yárqand and Khotan, and every one who was suspected of being in the interest of the Chinese was immediately killed; but the Khojan met with some resistance in his attempt to occupy Axu, Ilah, and the Kalmak territory, in consequence of the presence in them of the Chinese garrisons, and their vicinity to each other. Reinforcements were sent also from China to Kashghar, and after the lapse of a year, the Chinese succeeded in dispossessing the Khojan of his acquisitions; and making a prisoner of him, they confined him in a cage, and led him captive to the Emperor. His fate is not exactly known; some say that he who has been carried into captivity.

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