1 PUNJAB. 11s
2 be scrupulous in observing the rules of conventional hospitality,
3 Punj Deh is a frontier post of the kingdom of Khaurism, or the
4 dominions of the Khan of Khiva. Lat, 36° 4’, long. 62° 41’,
5 PUNJAB,' THE, an extensive territory on the north-
6 west of India, so called from two Persian words,* signifying
7 ** five waters,” the name having reference to five great rivers
8 which flow through it. With respect to the propriety of the
9 designation, it is, however, to be observed, that there are in
10 fact six rivers, the Indus, the Jailum, the Chenaub, the Ravee,
11 the Beas; and the Sutlej; but as the Beas has a much shorter
12 course than the others, it seems to have been disregarded when
13 the name of the country was bestowed. In semi-civilized states,
14 and especially in those of Asia, the boundaries, at all times ill-
15 defined, are subject to frequent changes ; and this holds true in
16 regard to the territory belonging to the independent Sikhs, a
17 consequence of their incessant wars with their neighbours to the
18 north and west. Any determination of boundary in these direc-
19 tions must therefore be in some degree arbitrary. In the present
20 case the Punjab will be regarded as co-extensive with the empire
21 of the independent Sikhs, with the exception of Peshawer and Da-
22 maun, or the Derajat, the two provinces of the Sikh empire, which
23 are situated west of the Indus: these form the subject of separate
24 articles, which appear under their respective names. If the Punjab
25 be considered (as in this view it will) to include the recent con-
26 quests of the Sikhs over Iskardo,? Ladakh,? and some other
27 hill states of less importance, it will be found to possess natural
28 limits remarkably well defined. They are as follows :—on
29 the north, the great mountain range, forming the extension of
30 Hindoo Koosh to the east, and known variously by the names
31 of Kouenlun, Mooz Taugh, and Karakorufi ;¢ on the north-west
32 and west, the Indus ; on the east and south-east, the river Sutlej
33 and its continuation, the Ghara. The shape in outline approaches
34 that of the sector of a circle, the centre of which is at the con-
35 fluence of the Punjnud and the Indus, in lat. 28° 55’, long. 70°
36 28’; the extreme radii, the Indus, holding in general a direction not
37 greatly varying from north to south; the Sutlej and its continua-
38 tion, the Ghara, holding a direction from north-east to south-west;
39 * Colxt) from Ly “ five,” and ¢ s{ ‘* water.”
40 i enw: a *
41 + See Hindoo Koosh,
42 12-
43 } Wilson, Ariana
44 Antiqua, 195;
45 Rennell, 80.
46 2 Vigne, Kashmir,
47 fl. 374.
48 3 F, Von Hugel,
49 Kaschmir, iv. 140.