Marco Polo in Central Asia: 23 The City of Scassem
When a man travels three days, he finds a city named Scassem [1]which is on the plain while others are on the mountains, and through which flows a river. There are porcupines, and when the hunters set their dogs upon them, the hogs collect together and push their spines, ready to attack, and if the dogs ignore this warning signal, often hurt themselves. This Scassem is a large large province, and shepherds dwell in caverns on the mountains, which are easily formed being wholly of earth, and make a large handsome habitation, when a man leaves this city, he travels three days without finding a house, or anything to eat or drink. So people travelling these places must carry provisions themselves. Now comes the district of Badascian.
Notes:-
1. Scassem: Most probably Cashmere (archaic) or Kashmir. The Tibetans must have been the earliest settlers in that land and they called it Khachal, Kha means opening, gap,or pass. Chal means plain or flat area or valley or plateau. It is a land of passes and valleys and plains. The Greeks called this area Kaspapyros. Kaspa is derived from Old Persian word Kaspi meaning Caspian sea. Here the land beyond Caspian sea
Pyros means fire or volcano. A region known for its volcanic activity. Or a landscape abundant in minerals. A corrupt form Kasperia became famous. Scassem may be derived from Chinese word Xassem, the Chinese way of naming Kashmir. The Vedic people brought another narrative connecting sage Kashyapa to the area to establish their claim on the land. In the medieval times the name Kashmir was transliterated or adapted into different languages resulting in various spellngs such as "Scassem," "Xassem," "Khassem," and "Cashmere." These variations reflect the thinking and perception of various people that traversed the are.
2. Badascian: Probably refers to Badakshan, on the Northeastern part of Afghanistan, boardering Tajikistan.
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