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36   MARCO POLO.   VOL. I. BK. I.

XXX., p. 164.

" The Chinese Toba Dynasty History mentions, in company

with Samarcand, K'a-shï-zeih (Cashmeer), and Kapisa, a State

called Pan-s/u, as sending tribute to North China along with the

Persian group of States. This name Pan-shé S )-i± does not, to

the best of my belief, occur a second time in any Chinese record."

(PARKER, Asiatic Quart. Rev., Jan., 1904, p. 135.)

XXX., p. 164. " Now let us proceed and speak of another country

which is seven day's journey from this one [Pashai] towards the south-

east, and the name of which is KESHIMUR."

This short estimate has perplexed Sir Henry Yule, l.c., p. 166.

Sir Aurel Stein remarks in a note, Serindia, I., p. 12 : " The

route above indicated [Nigudar's route] permits an explanation.

Starting from some point like Arnawal on the Kūnär River

which certainly would be well within ` Pashai,' lightly equipped

horsemen could by that route easily reach the border of Agrör

on the Indus within seven days. Speaking from personal know-

ledge of almost the whole of the ground I should be prepared to

do the ride myself by the following stages : Dīr, Warai, Sado,

Chakdara, Kin kargalai, Bäjkatta, Kai or Darband on the Indus.

It must be borne in mind that, as Yule rightly recognized, Marco

Polo is merely reproducing information derived from a Mongol

source and based on Nigudar's raid ; and further that Hazära and

the valley of the Jhelam were probably then still dependent

on the. Kashmir kingdom, as they were certainly in Kalhana's

Only nly a century earlier. As to the rate at which Mongols

were accustomed to travel on ` Dak,' cf. Yule, Marco Polo, I.,

pp. 434 seq."

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XXXII., pp. 17o, z7r. " The people [of Badashan] are Mahom-

metans, and valiant in war. . . . They [the people of Vokhan] are

gallant soldiers."

In Afghan Wakhan, Sir Aurel Stein writes :

" On we cantered at the head of quite a respectable cavalcade

to where, on the sandy plain opposite to the main hamlet of

Sarhad, two companies of foot with a squad of cavalry, close on

two hundred men in all, were drawn up as a guard of honour.

Hardy and well set up most of them looked, giving the impression

of thoroughly serviceable human material, in spite of a manifestly

defective drill and the motley appearance of dress and equipment.