SIAH POSH KAFIR, a name applied to a mountain race, the ancient Paropanaisidm, the literalineaning being black-clothed infidel. From the Hindu Kush, numerous small streams drain in converging and descending lines to concentrate in one deep glen, which continues its course southwards, joined by frequent streams from the inner slopes of the two ridges of Kashgar and Kafiristan, till, having become a large river, it joins the Kunar at Chigar Sarai. The slopes of this valley and these gleus form the homes of the Siah Posh, and each little glen is inhabited by its own tribe, each taking its designation from the name of their respective valley. Masson and Raverty say that three rivers, the Kao, Alingar, and Chigar Sami, flow through their country. The whole of this country is composed of snowy mountains, deep pine forests, and small but fertile valleys, which produce large quantities of grapes, wild and cultivated, and flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, while the hills are covered with goats. Grain is inferior both in importance and abund ance. The common kiuds are wheat and millet. The roads are only fit for tnen on foot, and aro often crossed by rivers and torrents, which are passed by means of wooden bridges or of swing bridges, made of ropes of withy or some other pliant tree. All the villages are described as built on the slopes of hills, so that the roof of one house forms the street leading to the one above it, and this is said to be the constant pmctice of the country. The people have no general name for their nation. Each tribe has its peculiar appellation, for they are all divided into tribes, though not according to genealogy, but to geo graphical position, each valley being held by a sepamte tribe. The fair complexion and regular
features of the Siah Posh Kafir, the variously coloured eye and shaded hair, indicate them to belong to the Indo-European family of nations, and disconnect them from the Tajak, the Hazara, the Uzbak, or the Kirghiz. The region now inhabited by the SIMI Posh is surrounded by the countries in which the Greek dynasties ruled, and is encircled by the colonies, posts, and garrisons which they are known to have established, and by military colonies of Macedonians at Alexandria. ad Caucasum, Arigteum, and Bazim, and of the garrisons of Nysa, Ora, Massaga, Peucelaotis, mid Aornis. Those who suppose that the Siah Posh Kafir are descendants of the Greeks, have their speculations strengthened by the fact that many petty princes and chiefs, some of whom are now Muhammadans, but originally Siali Posh, claim descent from the Macedonian hero, and have preserved vague accounts referable either to their reputed ancestor's marriage with the fair Rozana or to his amour with the captive queen of Mas saga. Dr. Wolff supposed them to be -descendants of the Israelites. 3Iohun Lal states that the women possess great beauty, and manage all the out-door business, while their husbands remain in the house, feeding the children in their arms. The Siah Posh place their corpses in deal boxes, and expose them on the summits of hills, like the people of Tibet. The Siah Posh speak a dialect of the Sanskrit, and are said to worship Siva. --Mohun Lal's Travels ; Elphinstone's Caubul ; TVoly's Bokhara ; MacGregor. See Kafir.