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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

for whom he was anxious to secure an undisturbed succession to what he had won by craft and
unscrupulous violence, his features always seemed to soften in a manner that compelled sympathy.
That he could command genuine attachment and devotion from those whom he employed round
his person or used as the confidential instruments of his policy, was apparent from much that
I noticed or heard. He evidently took care to keep on good terms with the priestly element, the
Saiyids and Mullahs, in view of their influence both in Darēl and Tangīr. But though he, no
doubt, might have been prepared to use fanatical feeling if it served his ends, yet it seemed to me
that the Mullahs neither individually nor collectively were allowed much weight in Pakhtūn Wālī's
inner councils.

Physique In the strange medley attending on the Rāja, which seemed to call up times and methods of
and rule long gone by, Darēlis were evidently still kept much in the background. Yet to me their
character of
Darēlis. elders and headmen (Fig. 26) were figures of distinct interest. They appeared to represent certain
features of the racial type of the Darēl population in a specially characteristic fashion. This
racial type in its general aspects, as far as I could judge without anthropometrical observations,
for the collection of which there was no time, seemed to me unmistakably akin to that of the other
Shinā-speaking Dard tribes that occupy the adjoining mountain territories. Yet the refinement
frequently noticeable in the features of the men and their less heavily built frame suggested inheri-
tance from a more developed civilization, but one that had been decadent for many generations.
The weakening effects of such descent and of a long period of anaemic anarchy, such as is generally
supposed to have prevailed in Darēl previous to Pakhtūn Wālī's advent, seemed best to account
for that want of vigour which struck me in the physique and mentality of Darēlis. I received
the distinct impression that theirs was a race subject to the inherited instincts of town-bred folk
and needing a strong ruler.

Aims of There was much to claim my interest in what I heard from the Khushwaqt chief that evening
Rāja Pakh-
tūn Wālī. and during the long return visit he paid me next morning in my camp pitched by the
Gime-gāh stream not far off. But there is no need here to record details. He was manifestly
anxious to effect material improvements after the model of those to which British influence is
slowly opening the way in the tracts controlled by the Gilgit and Chitrāl Agencies. Perhaps he
rightly hoped that the making of roads practicable for laden animals, instead of the goat tracks
that connect the valleys under his rule, and similar facilities for trade and intercourse, would make
his subjects more ready to forget their former independence. In any case there was more hope
of his securing the required engineering implements and other assistance from the British Political
authorities than the supplies of modern arms and ammunition on which his desire was set. To the
great openings for increased agricultural production and to the possibility of developing the
important natural resources of Darēl and its adjoining valleys eastward Rāja Pakhtūn Wālī
seemed to be fully alive. It did not surprise me to learn, years later, that he had since my visit
spent much energy on making roads convenient for laden traffic and on endeavours to attract
new settlers to waste areas in Darēl and Khanbari.

End of He had spared no care nor trouble to facilitate my safe passage through his territory and to
Pakhtūn
Wālī and make it as profitable as the strict limitation of my time permitted. So it was natural that I should
his king-
dom. carry away from my Darēl visit warm gratitude for the friendly welcome accorded to me and
a genuine and sympathetic interest in its ruler. This feeling prompts me to record here in all
briefness the sad end of Rāja Pakhtūn Wālī's life and kingdom. The years following my visit had
seen a wise diversion of his policy from further expansion and conquest to the peaceful consolida-
tion of his territory by means of improved communications, trade facilities, &c., as well as by
closer relations with the Gilgit Agency. However, old hatreds were kept awake by the remembrance