[44] A few remarks made under this head and that of music have been taken from Part II, pages 32 and 21, of my “Dardistan,” in order to render the accounts more intelligible.
[45] The drawing and description of this scene were given in the _Illustrated London News_ of the 12th February, 1870, under the heading of “A Dance at Gilgit.”
[46] Wine is called in Gilgit by the same name as is “beer” by the Astoris, _viz._: “Mō.” The wine press is called “Mōe Kùrr.” The reservoir into which it flows is called “Mōe Sán.”
[47] These are the strange sect of the Muláis about whom more in my “Handbook of Hunza, Nagyr and a part of Yasín.”
[48] This is said to be no longer the case, except in those Dard republics, where foreigners have not yet interfered. In monarchical Yasin, and, above all, in Hunza, sexual laxity has ever been great. Where Sunni rulers have substituted dancing-boys for the dancing of men (formerly both men and women danced together), a worse evil has been introduced. A most sacred relationship is the one created by the foster-mother. The linguistic portion of “The of Hunza-Nagyr Handbook,” as also of Parts I. and II. of “Dardistan” solves the questions of whether and where polygamy, endogamy, etc., existed among the Dards, who, in appearance and sentiment as regards women, as also in legendary lore, are very “European,” but whom invasion will convert into strict Muhammadans and haters of the “Firenghi.”
[49] The “brother in the faith” with whom raw milk has been drunk, _Vide_ page 41.
Betrothal, = balli = pumpkin in Gilgiti, Soél—Astóri Bridegroom, = hileléo, Gil. hiláleo. Astóri. Bride, = hilal Bridegroom’s MEN, = garóni, Gil. hilalée, Astóri. Marriage شادي = garr, Gil. Kàsh. Astóri Dowry, = “dab,” Gil. and Astóri
(the grain, ghee and sheep that may accompany the betrothal-present is called by the Astóris “sakáro.”)
Husband, = baráo, Gil. baréyo, Astóri. Wife, = Greyn, Gil. gréyn, Astóri.
Wedding dinner “garéy tíki” in Gilgiti. “Kajjéyn bai kyas,” in Astori (?) [“tikki” is bread, “bai” is a chippati, kyas = food].
[50] The Turks say “a girl of 15 years of age should be either married or buried.”
[51] Is celebrated in Autumn when the fruit and corn have become ripe. For a detailed account of this and other festivals see “Hunza-Nagyr Handbook,” and Parts II. and III. of the “Languages and Races of Dardistan.”