The Nāṣirī Generations 256.4.2

256.4.2

Mr. H. H. Howorth has been writing voluminous articles lately on “Avlie Ata,” the “Khara Khitais,” “Balasagun,” and other kindred subjects, but, to judge from them, he appears to change his opinions, as well as his proper names, with each fresh one. In the Geographical Magazine, for July, 1875, p. 217, he writes with reference to “Balasagun” that “Gu-Balik” is the literal translation of city on the Chu and he follows one of the writers just referred to, and says that “Balasagun” [all three writers mentioned spell the word differently, it will be observed] “merely means city,” and that “Balasagun is a wholly indefinite term.” In this last opinion I do not by any means agree with him. What more definite name is required I cannot conceive; it is as definite as Samrkand or Bukhara. But in what tongue does “Gu-Balik” mean only “city”? This is diametrically opposed to Colonel Yule’s theory.