The Geography of the Puranas c7.s5.77

c7.s5.77

The barbarous tribes, living near the central peaks of the main range, are the uncouth and savage Kafirs, who, driven from many directions into the most inaccesible pastures of the hills by the advance of stronger races north and south, have occupied remote valleys preserving their own dialects. The settlement of Deśapradeśa lying to the south of the main range probably refers to Dashpar region, which was occupied by the warlike Turkish raiders who were for long a menace to the routes and settlements of the northern valleys. The city of Ulanghi (lit., 'a saddle or pass') is probably associated with the Baroghil Pass and corresponds to Darkot (lit., a 'gateway'). Hemacitra is obviously Chitral, an important town of the N.W. Frontier. The abode or the 'zone of influence' of Vahni Deva points definitely to the settlements of fire-worshippers of Wakhan, Ishkashim, Shignan and Roshan who dominated the upper valley of the Oxus for centuries.