[27] Part II., page 16, gives the following for “Birch.” “Birch? = Djônjî (the white bark of which is used for paper) in Kashmîr where it is called the book-tree “Burus kull” lit: Burus = the book; kúll = plant, tree.”
[28] “Tshikkí” is a black fragrant matter said to be gathered under the wing-pits of the hawk; “djónji” is, to me, an unknown tree, but I conjecture it to be the birch tree. “Gas” is a princess and “mal” is added for euphony.
[29] [“Mulayi” for woman is not very respectful; women are generally addressed as “kaki” sister, or “dhì” daughter.]
[30] Na? is it? is it not so? na seems generally to be a mere exclamation.
[31] The people of Astor are mostly Sunnis, and the Gilgitis mostly Shiahs, the Chilásis are all Sunnis.
[32] A reed which grows in the Gilgit country of white or red colour.
[33] It is rather unusual to find the nightingale representing the beloved. She is generally “the rose” and the lover “the nightingale.”
[34] Possibly Ali Sher Khan, also called Ali Shah, the father of Ahmed Shah, the successful and popular Rajah of Skardo in the Sikh days—or else the great Ali Sher Khan, the founder of the race or caste of the Makpon Rajahs of Skardo. He built a great stone aqueduct from the Satpur stream which also banked up a quantity of useful soil against inundations.
[35] Murad was, I believe, the first Skardo Rajah who conquered Gilgit, Nagyr, Hunza and Chitrál. He built a bridge near the Chitrál fort. Traces of invasion from Little Tibet exist in Dardistan. A number of historical events, occurring at different periods, seem to be mixed up in this song.
[36] The veneration for the name is, of course, also partly due to the fact that it means “the lion of Ali,” Muhammad’s son-in-law, to whose memory the Shiah Mussulmans are so devotedly attached. The Little Tibetans are almost all Shiahs.