_Cathay_, p. 542; _Faiz
Bakhsh_, etc.)

NOTE 9.--This "bombasticall dissimulation of their garments," as the
author of _Anthropometamorphosis_ calls such a fashion, is no longer
affected by the ladies of Badakhshan. But a friend in the Panjab observes
that it still survives _there_. "There are ladies' trousers here which
might almost justify Marco's very liberal estimate of the quantity of
stuff required to make them;" and among the Afghan ladies, Dr. Bellew
says, the silken trousers almost surpass crinoline in amplitude. It is
curious to find the same characteristic attaching to female figures on
coins of ancient kings of these regions, such as Agathocles and Pantaleon.
(The last name is appropriate!)

CHAPTER XXX.

OF THE PROVINCE OF PASHAI

You must know that ten days' journey to the south of Badashan there is a
Province called PASHAI, the people of which have a peculiar language,
and are Idolaters, of a brown complexion. They are great adepts in
sorceries and the diabolic arts. The men wear earrings and brooches of
gold and silver set with stones and pearls. They are a pestilent people
and a crafty; and they live upon flesh and rice. Their country is very
hot.[NOTE 1]

Now let us proceed and speak of another country which is seven days'
journey from this one towards the south-east, and the name of which is
KESHIMUR.

NOTE 1.--The name of PASHAI has already occurred (see ch. xviii.) linked
with DIR, as indicating a tract, apparently of very rugged and difficult
character, through which the partizan leader Nigudar passed in making an
incursion from Badakhshan towards Kashmir. The difficulty here lies in the
name _Pashai_, which points to the south-west, whilst _Dir_ and all other
indications point to the south-east. But Pashai seems to me the reading to
which all texts tend, whilst it is clearly expressed in the G. T.
(_Pasciai_), and it is contrary to all my experience of the interpretation
of Marco Polo to attempt to torture the name in the way which has been
common with commentators professed and occasional. But dropping this name
for a moment, let us see to what the other indications do point.

In the meagre statements of this and the next chapter, interposed as they
are among chapters of detail unusually ample for Polo, there is nothing to
lead us to suppose that the Traveller ever personally visited the
countries of which these two chapters treat. I believe we have here merely
an amplification