[71] This name is also and properly given by the Baltis to their Dard fellow-countrymen. Indeed the Little Tibetans look more like Dards than Ladákis.
[72] _Place aux dames!_ For six years I believed myself “the discoverer” of this fact, but I find that, as regards Kartakchun in Little Tibet, I have been nearly anticipated by Mrs. Harvey, who calls the inhabitants “Dards,” “Dâruds” (or “Dardoos.”)
[73] My Sazîni calls the people of his own place = Bigé; those of Tórr = _Manuké_, and those of Harbenn = _Jure_.
[74] The two Kafirs in my service in 1866, one of whom was a Bashgali, seemed inoffensive young men. They admitted drinking a portion of the blood of a killed enemy or eating a bit of his heart, but I fancy this practice proceeds more from bravado than appetite. In “Davies’ Trade Report” I find the following Note to Appendix XXX., page CCCLXII. “The ruler of Chitrál is in the habit of enslaving all persons from the tribes of Kalásh, Dangini and Bashghali, idolaters living in the Chitrál territory.”
[75] Both my Gilgiti follower, Ghulam Muhammad, and the Astóri retainer, Mirza Khan, claimed to be pure Shîns. The former returned to my service some years afterwards and was measured together with other Dards. (See Appendix V.)
[76] My Sazîni says that the Dôms are below the Kramìns and that there are only 4 original castes: Shîn, Yáshkunn, Kramìn [or “Kamìnn”] and Dôm, who, to quote his words, occupy the following relative ranks: “The Shîn is the right hand, the Yáshkunn the left; the Kramìn the right foot, the Dôm the left foot.” “The other castes are mere names for occupations.” A Shîn or Yáshkunn can trade, cultivate land or be a shepherd without loss of dignity—Kramìns are weavers, carpenters, etc., but not musicians—as for leather, it is not prepared in the country. Kramìns who cultivate land consider themselves equal to Shîns. Dôms can follow _any_ employment, but, if a Dôm becomes a Mulla, he is respected. Members of the several castes who misbehave are called Mîn, Pashgun, Mamin and Môm respectively. “A man of good caste will espouse sides and fight to the last even against his own brother.” Revenge is a duty, as among Afghans, but is not transmitted from generation to generation, if the first murderer is killed. A man who has killed another, by mistake, in a fight or otherwise, seeks a frank forgiveness by bringing a rope, shroud and a buffalo to the relatives of the deceased. The upper castes can, if there are no Kramìns in their villages, do ironmonger’s and carpenter’s work, without disgrace; but must wait for Kramìns or Dôms for weaver’s work. The women spin. The “Dôms” are the “Rôms” of Gipsy lore.