大唐西域記 12.5

12.5

弗栗恃薩儻那國，東西二千餘里，南北千餘里。國大都城號護苾那，周二十餘里。土宜風俗，同漕矩吒國，語言有異。氣序寒勁，人性獷烈。王，突厥種也，深信三寶，尚學遵德。從此國東北，踰山涉川，越迦畢試國邊城小邑，凡數十所，至大雪山婆羅犀那大嶺。嶺極崇峻，危隥𢼨傾，蹊徑盤迂，巖岫回互。或入深谷，或上高崖，盛夏合凍，鑿氷而度。行經三日，方至嶺上。寒風凄烈，積雪彌谷，行旅經涉，莫能佇足。飛隼翱翔，不能越度，足趾步履，然後飜飛，下望諸山，若觀培塿。贍部洲中，斯嶺特高。其巔無樹，唯多石峯，攢立叢倚，森然若林。又三日行，方得下嶺，至安呾羅縛國。

This kingdom is about 2000 li from east to west and 1000 li from north to south. The capital is called U-pi-na (Hupian), and is 20 li round. As regards the soil and the manners of the people, these are the same as in Tsu-ku-cha; the language, however, is different. The climate is icy cold; the men are naturally fierce and impetuous. The king is a Turk (Tu-kiueh). They have (or he has) profound faith for the three precious objects of worship; he esteems learning and honours virtue (or, the virtuous, i.e., the priests).
Going to the north-east of this kingdom, traversing mountains and crossing rivers, and passing several tens of little towns situated on the frontier of the country of Kapisa, we come to a great mountain pass called Po-losi-na (Varasena), which forms part of the great snowy mountains. This mountain pass is very high; the precipices are wild and dangerous; the path is tortuous, and the caverns and hollows wind and intertwine together. At one time the traveller enters a deep valley, at another he mounts a high peak, which in full summer is blocked with frozen ice. By cutting steps up the ice the traveller passes on, and after three days he comes to the highest point of the pass. There the icy wind, intensely cold, blows with fury; the piled snow fills the valleys. Travellers pushing their way through, dare not pause on their route. The very birds that fly in their wheeling flight cannot mount alone this point, but go afoot across the height and then fly downwards. Looking at the mountains round, they seem as little hillocks. This is the highest peak of all Jambudvipa. No trees are seen upon it, but only a mass of rocks, crowded one by the side of the other, like a wild forest.
Going on for three days more, we descend the pass and come to 'An-ta-lo-po (Andar-ab).