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『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

THE AIN-I-AKBARI.

73

Fazl, 1 although a Mohammedan, only used to drink Ganges water both at home and while travelling.

To judge from the Ain-i-Akbari, Tibet was known and valued chiefly on account of its products. »Although gold is imported into Hindustan, it is to be found in abundance in the northern mountains of the country, as also in Tibet. Gold may also be obtained by the Salôni-process from the sands of the Ganges and Indus, and several other rivers, as most of the waters of this country are mixed

ith gold: however, the labour and expense greatly exceed the profit.» 2 Or when it is said that merchants bring to court good horses from several different countries, Kirgis, Tibet, and Kashmir amongst others. Or when the »katas» or Tibetan yak is mentioned, »an animal of extraordinary appearance, occurring in the neighbourhood of Tibet and Kashmir».3

Akbar was told that »in Tibet there was even now a class of Låmahs, or Mongolian devotees, and recluses, and hermits, that live two hundred years, and more', 4 information that must have aroused the curiosity of the Emperor, who was particularly interested in religion, not least in that of the Jesuit Fathers at Goa.

The following piece of hydrography is important; it occurs under the title »Sûbah of Låhor:5

»It has six principal rivers which all flow from the northern mountains. I. The Sutlej the ancient name of which is Shattudar and whose source is in the Kåhlôr hills 6 ... it receives the Biåh at the Bauh ferry.? II. The Biåh (Bias) was anciently called Bipåsha.8 Its source is named Biahkund in the Kullu mountains in the vicinity of which the town of Sultånptlr stands above the river. III. The Ravi, the ancient I'rawati, rises in the Bhadrål hills. Lahor the capital, is situated on its banks. IV. The Chenåb, anciently Chandarbhågå ... V. The Bihat,9 anciently called Bidasta, has its rise in a lake in the parganah of Vér in Kashmir, flows through Srinagar and enters Hindustan ... VI. The source of the Sindh (Indus) is placed by some between Kashmir and Kåshghar, while others locate it in China. It flows along the borders of the Sawåd territory . .. into Baluchistan.» I°

I FRANÇOIS BERNIER writes that Aurangzeb also used Ganges-water, as well as all members of the court; when travelling several camels laden with Ganges-water accompanied the camp. Travels in the Mogul Empire A. D. 1656-1668 Constable's edition, London 1891, p. 221, 356, and 364.

2 The Ain i Akbari by Abul Fazl 'Allami, translated from the original Persian, by H. BLOCH-MANN M. A. Vol. I. Calcutta 1873, p. 12.

3 Ibidem p. 132 and 149.

4 Ibidem p. 201.

5 Op. cit. Vol. II, translated by Colonel H. S. JARRETT, Calcutta, 1891, p. 31o.

6 I do not know whether the Kåhlôr hills stand for Kulu or Kailas or anything else. The source of the river in Manasarovar seems to have been unknown, at least to the compilators of the Ain-i-Akbari. In a note the translator says: »It rises like the Indus on the slopes of the Kailas mountains ... The twin lakes of Månasarowar and Rakas-tal, united with each other, are its direct source», a statement which is only partly correct.

7 P. 326 is found a more detailed description of the junction of the Bias and Satlej.

8 Sanscrit Vipasa, Greek Hyphasis.

9 Sanscrit Vitasta, PTOLEMY'S Bidaspes.

1O The uncertainty betrayed by this passage becomes so much the stronger when it is said later on, p. 364, that the river called Sind rises in Tibet.

10-131387 I.