Ca Ufiristaun

CA UFIRISTAUN, a mountainous country of Asia, situated partly upon the Hindoo Coosh, and partly upon the Beloor Tmigh. ha boundaries are Caubul, Boduksbaun, and Bulkb. This territory consists of vast mountains covered with snow, is. dosing a few narrow but fertile valleys. It is Inhabited by a singular people, the Caufirs, whoa in religion, manners, and institutions, have remained entirely distinct from 'all their neighbours. Their religion is entirely Pagan, and they acrid) the dead liest antipathy against the .Mahometan name. To have killed a Measidman is the highest glory A which a Caufir can aspire. Their religious ohne vanes bear no resemblance to those established is ' any part of India. They acknowledge a supreme Deity, whom they call Inns ; and, in their come nies, represent him by a stone called Tartans or the holy Nene. But they observe, " This stands fa him, but we know not his shape." They have be sides numerous inferior 'deities, ef deceased Caufirs, who have distinguished t by any eminent qualities. The best mode of seam in an apotheosis, is by giving numerous feasts to the village, hospitality and good cheer being held by chi people in the highest veneration. The Cain area almost continual war with their neighbours. They sometimes openly attack, but more commonly seat to surprise, their enemy. On suoceediag, they at up a war—my, sing a swag of triumph,, and samara all without distinction Numerous priwiegas are se. •ached to the having killed a Msasaulmes. Ile 'he has perforated this eitpioit, may wear a WNW eloo with feathers, may Sourish his axe over his end the dance, and may set up a pele before his doer. with as pin stuck in it for ewery elaughtered eael Their atlas are bows, fear and a half feet laws Ind light arrows, sometime& poisoned. When pursued' they unbend their hews. and use them as Patit/ the aid of which they leap from rank to rock astonishing agility. Abeam dirty years no, all in a gene* coafesistaty for the the same rude freedom on their inountains, bat are subjected to a very rigorous system of law sod police.

Heraut scarcely belongs to Caubul, being govern. ed, almost independently, by a prince of the royal blood. It is a very ancient city, and somewhat mun passes the others in magnificence, being built, is a great. measure, alter the Persian model. It is ape posed to contain about 100,000 inhabitants.

The following table of the population of the king dom of Caubul, founded chi* upon conjectural data, is supposed rather to fall short 14 than to et. seed the truth.

extirpation of the Caulks. They penetrated the country in every direction, but found themselves on• able to maintain their ground, and were soon obliged to retire with loss.

The Comfits are hospitable in the extreme. A stranger aerivitt? at one of their villages is not only welcomed, but is expected to visit each of the priaci.

pal men, where he isre

with every dainty the house can affind, heir wealth consists of cattle and slaves ; the latter are always their own country. men, as they never spare the life of a Mussel man. The government is. chiefly conducted by consultation. among the rich men. Their dress consists princi pally of goat skins, with the hair turned outwards, two of which form. a vest, and other two a kind of petticoat They are less addicted to hunting than the Afghauns. The favourite amusement is dancing, of which they never tire. They cannot accommo date themselves to the Asiatic practice of seating themselves cross-legged on the ground, but sit in the European manner on benches and stools. They also use tables, and drink wine copiously, though not to intoxication, out of silver caps. These European habits have given rise to the hypothesis of their be ing a Greek colony, left during the expedition of Alexander ; but all probability of this seems de stroyed by the circumstance that their language con. tains no Greek admixture, and is closely allied to the &merit. The two chief towns, or rather villages, of the Coats, are Caumdaish and Tsokooee. The fernier contains five hundred houses. See Mr Elm phinstone's valuable Acceaut of Casaba,. (a.)