10
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(where a separate vault is made for it) for the same period. The orifice is almost hermeti cally closed with a skin. After twelve days the
jar is opened and contains a drink possessing intoxicating qualities. The first infusion is much prized, but the corn receives a second and some times even a third supply of water, to be put out again in a similar manner and to provide a kind of Beer for the consumer.
This Beer is
called “Mö.” and is much drunk by the Astoris and Chilasis—(the latter are rather stricter Mus sulmans than the other Shina people.) After all strength has been taken out of the corn it is given away as food to sheep, &c., which they find exceedingly nourishing. Wine."—The Ghilgitis are great wine-drinkers, though not so much so as the people of Hunza. In Nagyr little wine is made. The mode of preparation of the wine is a simple one. The grapes are stamped out by a man who, for tunately before entering into the wine press, washes his feet and hands. The juice flows into another reservoir, which is first well laid
round with stones, over which a cement is put of chalk mixed with sheep-fat which is previously
heated. The juice is kept in this reservoir; the top is closed, cement being put round the sides, and only in the middle an opening is made over which a loose stone is placed. After two or three months the reservoir is opened, and the wine is used at meals and festivals. In Dareyl (and not in Ghilgit, as was told to Wigne,) the custom is to sit round the grave of the deceased and eat grapes, nuts, and Tshilgözas (edible
[JANUARY 5, 1872.
Mahārāja's troops when invading Ghilgit often suffered severely from want of food, when, un known to them, large stores of grain of every kind,-butter, ghi, &c., were buried close to them. The Ghilgitis and other so-called rebels, generally, were well off, knowing where to go for food. Even in subject Astor, it is the custom to lay up provisions in this manner. On the day of birth of any one in that country, it is the custom to bury a stock of provisions, which are opened on the day of betrothal of the young man and distri buted. The ghi, which by that time turns fright fully sour and (to our taste) unpalatable, and the colour of which is red, is esteemed a great de licacy, and is said to bring much luck. The chalk used for cementing the stones is called “San batt.” Grapes are called “Jach,” and are said, together with wine, to have been the principal food of Ghazanfar, the Raja of Hunza, of whom it is reported that when he heard of the arrival of the first European in Astor (probably Wigne) he fled to a fort called Gojal and shut himself up in it with his flocks, family and retainers. He had been told that the European was a great sorcerer, who carried an army with him in his trunks, and who had serpents at his command that stretched themselves over any river in his way to afford him a passage. I found this reputation of Euro pean sorcery of great use, and the wild moun taineers looked with respect and awe on a little box which I carried with me, and which contained
some pictures of clowns and soldiers belonging
cakes before the Mulla, (when the earth has been
to a small magic lantern. The Ghilgitis consider the use of wine as unlawful ; probably it is not very long since they have become so religious and drink it with remorse. My Ghilgitis told me
pine). In Astor (and in Chilás 2) the custom is to put a number of Ghi (clarified butter) put on the deceased) who, after reading
that the Muyulli—a sect living in Hunza, Gojal,
prayers over them, distributes them to the company who are standing round with their
Yassen and Punya—considered the use of wine with prayers to be rather meritorious than other
caps on. In Ghilgit, three days after the burial,
wise.
bread is generally distributed to the friends and acquaintances of the deceased. To return to the wine presses, it is to be noticed that no one ever interferes with the store of another.
I
passed several of them on my road from Cha kerkot onward, but they appeared to have been destroyed. This brings me to another custom
A drunkard is called “ Máto.” (c.)—BIRTH CEREMONIES.
As soon as a child is born, the father or the Mulla repeat the “bāng” in his ear “ Allah Akbar” (which an Astori, of the name of Mirza Khan, said was never again repeated in one's
out in the mountains or near their houses, and of
life'). Three days after the reading of the “bäng” or “namáz” in Ghilgit, and seven days after that ceremony in Astor, a large company assembles, when the father or grand-father of the newborn child gives him a name, or
which they alone have any knowledge. The
the Mulla fixes on a name by putting
which all the Dards seem to have of burying pro visions of every kind in cellars that are scooped
as the same is called
- Wine into
Sán.” “Möename is called flows by whichinitGhilgit reservoir
his
- r is by the Astoris, viz "Mo" The wine press is called “Moe Kurr.” The
