国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

> > > >
カラー New!IIIFカラー高解像度 白黒高解像度 PDF   日本語 English
0373 Innermost Asia : vol.2
極奥アジア : vol.2
Innermost Asia : vol.2 / 373 ページ(カラー画像)

New!引用情報

doi: 10.20676/00000187
引用形式選択: Chicago | APA | Harvard | IEEE

OCR読み取り結果

 

Sec. i]

OLD REMAINS IN WAKHAN   869

Opposite to the eastern end of the main circumvallation a small rock island rises between forking branches of the Yamchin gorge (see Pl. 47 and Fig. 409). Of these two the eastern one is no longer reached by the stream, though it was, no doubt, once eroded by it. The isolated rocky eminence lies well below the level of the spurs flanking the Yamchin gorge on either side, and is curiously shaped like an arm bent at right angles. Its top, nowhere more than 4o yards wide and less in most places, bears the walls of a small fortification known as Zulkhomar. Its walls, though very massive, have suffered much decay, probably through the steep slopes offering little room for secure foundations. Their construction corresponds in all respects to that of the main stronghold. The approach seems to have led up from the ravine to the south-eastern extremity of the fort, which faces the tower ii of the lower line of walls of the main stronghold.

No direct archaeological or other evidence is at present available as regards the date of this remarkable stronghold. But the extent, solidity, and general character of the defences distinctly point to pre-Muhammadan times, and this is borne out both by the name and by local tradition. The name ` Zamr-i-atish-parast ' is of special interest because it indicates some recollection of Zoroastrian fire-worship, such as even this eastern extreme of ancient Iran is likely to have known. Captain Wood records of the ` three Kafir forts ' of Hissar, Zamr-i-atish-parast, and Namadgut that the natives believe them ` to have been erected by the Guebers or Fire-worshippers ',14 and rightly refers to a Wakhi custom which indicates ` lingering remnants of Zoroastrian creed '.15 It would scarcely be safe to deduce more from this statement than that local belief at the time attributed those strongholds to ` Kafirs' or unbelievers, just as it does now, and identified these with followers of the ancient pre-Muhammadan creed of Iran. But in any case we may credit it with a far closer approximation to historical likelihood than the theory elaborated at length in a more recent European traveller's book which seeks to identify those ` Kafirs' with the Siahpôsh of Kafiristan.ls The Wakhis certainly know of these modern Kafirs and have heard of the murderous raids they used to make, down to the last century, into the valleys north of the Hindukush adjoining their own. I f asked about the ` Kafir' builders of those strongholds, they would obviously prefer to identify them with those at one time dreaded tribes than acknowledge that their own ancestors could have ever been ` Kafirs'. Considering all we know now about the primitive state of civilization prevailing among those barbarous hillmen of Kafiristan, a theory which would credit them with a lasting reign over Wakhan and the construction of such elaborate fortifications scarcely calls for serious critical examination.

Without systematic excavations no attempt can be made to ascertain the exact period to which Zamr-i-atish-parast and the closely corresponding fortifications of the ` Castle of Qa`ga ' near Namadgut owe their construction. But certain general observations may safely be offered even in the absence of chronological or other definite data. The extent and solidity of the defences clearly show that at the time of their erection Wakhan must have possessed a population and resources greatly in excess of those to be found there at present." The extent of cultivable land can scarcely

14 Cf. Wood, Source of the Oxus2, p. 218.

15 Ibid. He thus mentions the unwillingness to blow out a light by the breath, a characteristic trait which was observed by him also in Badakhshàn.

16 See Olufsen, Unknown Pamirs, pp. 173 sqq., with much of conjectures unchecked by available historical knowledge. The need of critical caution applies also to the description given on pp. 183 sqq., of the ` Siaposh fortress at Yamchin as appears, e. g., from a comparison of the plan in Pl. 47 with the estimated circumference of about 12 kilometres ' for the walls.

II

17 I am not aware whether an official Russian census of Wakhan is available. I may therefore note here the number of homesteads as indicated to me by Qazi Qadam Shah, of Shitkharw, a well-informed notable, for the five Aksakâlships of Wakhân : Langar 44, Zang 40, Warang 36, Putup (including Yamchin) 34, Shitkharw 36.

The number of individuals in a single homestead might, I was told, vary from 5 to about 3o. Assuming an average of io, these figures suggest for the Russian portion of Wakhan (above Ishkashim) a total approximating 2,000 souls.

The population on the Afghan side, including the Sarhad

5T

Outlying fort of Zulkhomàr.

Alleged ` Kafir' origin of fortifications.

Want of chronological data.