Marco Polo in Central Asia: 27: Vokhan, Pamir and Belor

When a man departs from Badascian(Badakshan) he goes twelve days between north-east and east, along a river which belongs to brother of that land.[1] There are good castles and good number of inhabitants who are valiant and adore Mohammed.  He then comes to a Province named Vokhan, not very large, being three days journey in every direction.  The people are of the same description, and subject to the ruler of Badascian (Badakshan).  Wild beasts and birds of every kind for hunting.  After three days travel over mountains, he ascends to the highest place in the world.  A plain between two vast hills, through which flows a very fine river issuing from a large lake.  A rich pasture in the world, lean animal gets fat here in ten days.  All kinds of wild animals are in abundance here.  A species of sheep with horns, a length of upto six palms are found. The shepherds make their spoons out of these horns.  Horns of dead animals are used to enclose the place where they keep the sheep.  Heaps of horn along the tracts guide the travellers in winter when the tracts are covered with snow.  This plains is called Pamier. No habitation. No meadows. Not a spot of lush green. Travellers must carry all the provisions by themselves.  No heat or light for the fire.  No bird can live in this cold region.  Fire does not cook, because it loses its heat. Leaving this place, take a northeast direction, forty days journey through passes, along and accross the rivers and deserts, is a country called Belore.  The people live on lofty hills. They are idolators, extremely savage, violent and cruel. They subsist on hunting, and use the skin of hunted animals as their dress.

Note:-
1. Probably River Panj, traditionally known as Ochus or Oxus, a tributary of Amu Darya, which flows through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.  Rising in the Pamir mountains, north of Hindu Kush the Amu Darya is formed by the confluence of Vakhsh and Panj rivers in Trigovaya  Balka  Nature Reserve on the boarder between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and flows into Aral Sea.

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