DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36956#0018
Peter Snoy, then Friedrich's student, and myself as responsible for his-
torical interpretations - recognised farmsteads with fortified towers in
this wind gap. We learned that behind the crest there was a village called
Sazm with its fortifications still intact (Rcc Dwg. 7). Unfortunately,
a visit was out of question: our research-permit was only for Tangir and
Darel, which had already been under regular administration for three
years; Sazm was still tribal territory (Jettmar 1956, 1957).
When we established our camp at Tangir, on the last day of May 1955,
we were completely captivated by the new, unexpected environment,
where we were received with astonishing cordiality. Strange as it may
sound, at that time in the Hmdukush every German was considered a
hero, a reputation gained by the suicidal war against so many enemies
which had brought freedom to India. We were surprised by the essential
differences from the settlement patterns we had encountered m the Gilgit
area. Many farmsteads were isolated and equipped with defence-towers.
An explanation was given by Raja Bahman, a guide and interpreter who
had been provided to us by the Political Agent at Gilgit. Bahman told us
that the whole area had been ruled by his father, Pakhtun Wali Khan.
His paternal grandfather had been Mir Wall, whose residence was m
Yasm, north of the Gilgit River. When the British explorer George Hay-
ward attempted to cross this area m 1870 he was killed on the order of
Mir Wali. Thus, Pakhtun Wall Khan was deeply mistrusted by the Brit-
ish administrators. For a while, he fought m the army of Umra Khan of
Jandul, and after his final defeat, he found shelter m Tangir, where
families related to him by milk-fostership had their homes.
Pakhtun Wall Khan had been well received m 1905, but he used this
chance for an attempt to carve out his own kingdom. The sudden attack
of a strong party against the house where he had been living marked the
beginning of open fighting. When his mother tried to negotiate with the
aggressors by presenting the Koran - according to a Pashtun ritual - her
action was not understood by the local people. She was wounded, a
2
torical interpretations - recognised farmsteads with fortified towers in
this wind gap. We learned that behind the crest there was a village called
Sazm with its fortifications still intact (Rcc Dwg. 7). Unfortunately,
a visit was out of question: our research-permit was only for Tangir and
Darel, which had already been under regular administration for three
years; Sazm was still tribal territory (Jettmar 1956, 1957).
When we established our camp at Tangir, on the last day of May 1955,
we were completely captivated by the new, unexpected environment,
where we were received with astonishing cordiality. Strange as it may
sound, at that time in the Hmdukush every German was considered a
hero, a reputation gained by the suicidal war against so many enemies
which had brought freedom to India. We were surprised by the essential
differences from the settlement patterns we had encountered m the Gilgit
area. Many farmsteads were isolated and equipped with defence-towers.
An explanation was given by Raja Bahman, a guide and interpreter who
had been provided to us by the Political Agent at Gilgit. Bahman told us
that the whole area had been ruled by his father, Pakhtun Wali Khan.
His paternal grandfather had been Mir Wall, whose residence was m
Yasm, north of the Gilgit River. When the British explorer George Hay-
ward attempted to cross this area m 1870 he was killed on the order of
Mir Wali. Thus, Pakhtun Wall Khan was deeply mistrusted by the Brit-
ish administrators. For a while, he fought m the army of Umra Khan of
Jandul, and after his final defeat, he found shelter m Tangir, where
families related to him by milk-fostership had their homes.
Pakhtun Wall Khan had been well received m 1905, but he used this
chance for an attempt to carve out his own kingdom. The sudden attack
of a strong party against the house where he had been living marked the
beginning of open fighting. When his mother tried to negotiate with the
aggressors by presenting the Koran - according to a Pashtun ritual - her
action was not understood by the local people. She was wounded, a
2