1 5 Leech, Hind.
2 Koosh, 34,
3 6 Masson, Bal.
4 Afg. Panj. ili, 168,
5 E.1.C, Ms, Doc.
6 E.IC, Ms. Doc.
7 Abbott, Hernut
8 and Khiva, (. 20,
9 1l4 PUNJAB.
10 tion of being good soldiers. Their most formidable enemies are
11 the Siyah Posh Kafirs, who hold the mountains and valleys to the
12 south-east of Punchshir, and make frequent inroads into it, never
13 sparing the lives of those who fall into their hands. In night
14 attacks, the cunning and agility of the Siyah Posh give them the
15 advantage; but in day-time, the firelock of the Punchshir bestows
16 on him the superiority over his more rudely armed enemy. The
17 savage character of these conflicting parties completely stops the
18 intercourse between Turkestan and Afghanistan by the Punchshir
19 route, across Hindoo Koosh, probably the easiest known. The
20 same cause prevents the working of the silver © and lead mines,
21 which lie in the upper part of the valley.
22 The Punchshiris are bigoted Mahometans of the Sunni per-
23 suasion. The name of Punjshir is supposed to have reference to
24 a tradition concerning five sons of Pandu, an ancient monarch of
25 fabulous renown.
26 PUNCHSHIR RIVER.—See Punssurr.
27 PUNDEE, in the province of Sarawan, in Beloochistan, a vil-
28 lage thirty-five miles north-west of the town of Kelat. Lat.
29 29° 20’, long. 66° 21’.
30 PUNGRIA, in Sinde, a village on the route from Larkhana
31 to Bagh, and twenty-four miles north of the former town. It is
32 situate on a watercourse near the southern border of the Runn,
33 Pat, or desert of Shikarpoor, yet the adjacent country, though
34 much overrun with jungle, is in several places cultivated. Lat.
35 27° 50’, long. 68° 10’.
36 PUNJ DEEN, or PUNJ DEH (five hamlets), in Khorasan,
37 on the route from Herat to Merve, and a hundred and thirty
38 miles north of the former town. Itis a stationary camp of Tur-
39 comans, and consists of about three hundred tents of black felt,
40 disposed in two squares. These are pitched amidst ruined vine-
41 yards and uncultivated fields, giving evidence of former industry
42 and civilization, the fruits of which have been swept away by the
43 devastating inroads of the nomadic tribes who now hold the soil.
44 The tents are comfortable dwellings, being well provided with
45 fine carpets and other furniture suitable for a migratory race.
46 The Turcoman inmates are rather fair and handsome, though of
47 Tartar physiognomy. They are described by Abbott as living
48 in rude plenty, and, though in general lawless slave-dealers, to