XI. THE SONG OF FORSYTH SAHIB WHEN HE WENT TO CONQUER YARKLAND

The Mission of Sir Douglas Forsyth across the Hindukush to Kashgar look place in 1873-4. It passed through Kashmir, where, people were collected to serve in the camp. Sabir, the author of this poem, describes the events attending the impressment of these camp-followers. He evidently believes that it was a military expedition to conquer Yarkand.

1. What I have seen, to that attend and thou shalt near. " Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

2. First, said the Queen of England, "Who can do this work? A mighty man is Forsyth." To him she gave the order, "Seat thyself upon the throne of Yarkand as its king, and from it levy thou tribute. Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

3. They who wielded the sceptre of authority from London unto Yarkand became famous over all the world. First halted they in Sonamarg*** to enjoy the delight of the flower-meads. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

*** A celebrated upland in the Sindh Valley of Kashmir, famous for the beauty of its wild flowers.

4. Ahead went the order of the Maharaj of Kashmir to Tibet.**** "Ye Baltis, advance ye and then hasten ye to Kashmir bringing passports with ye. Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

**** i.e. Little Tibet, or Baltistan. The people of this country are excellent carriers. They arc represented as being despatched in droves to the rendezvous in Kashmir. They are furnished with passports or certificates of dispatch.

5. The order for their assembling issued forth on all sides, and at first the people were collected in Maraz***** Lamenting were they and crying "Poor ignorant souls, whither are we come?" "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

***** One of the two divisions- Maraz and Kamraz-of the Valley of Kashmir. Maraz is the southern part of the valley, on both sides of the River Veth above Srinagar.

6. In houses of these Tibetans were Kashmiris quartered, and the brothers of Tibet were sent forward in advance. Horses were stationed for the post, and yaks for collecting and piling grass. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

7. Women were collected to help in distributing straw and firewood. Some of them were fresh from childbed, and others were heavy with child. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

8. Horses were demanded from villages that had naught but fowls. Their drivers knew not how to say "tchk", and could say only "har* har*," as they urged them along. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

*"Tchk " is the click made to encourage a horse, "har, har" is what is said for the same purpose to a cow. The impressed drivers were unaccustomed to horses, and knew only the bovine expletive.

9. When they harnessed a horse they turned the crupper towards its head, and hung the bridle by its tail. Grass ropes did they use for strong binding-straps.** All the appliances that they had were pack-saddles*** of straw and saddles made of rags. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

** The kannekh is the term used for the two straps or ropes attached at the back of a Kashmiri saddle to secure blanket, etc. (Stein),
*** The gand is the term used for the Turkistan packsaddle, which consists of two straw-filled pommels joined in front (Stein).

10. Menial cultivators were impressed in proportion to the size of each village, and on the shoulder of each was laid the burden of some special duty. Like bundles of grass were they crowded together, as they carried cooking pots for the potters. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

11. Said the potter's wife to the potter, "0 potter, thou art a fool. What need have we to put pots into the kiln? The business, dear, is a travelling one, and we must leave all uncooked food behind us (and bring with us our food ready cooked)." "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

12. Said the cow-herd to his wife, "Let us both go forth and arrange a place for the cows. If we carry a wisp of grass upon our heads, the cows will follow at a run." "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

13. He went forth, milk-pail on haunch, and carrying his load of pots. The people all were exhausted by their march, and to them the kindly milkman seemed as blessed as a garden-watcher of Paradise. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

14. The sweeper said to the sweeper's wife, "I shall never remember what I have to do. They expect me to provide leather and a cobbler's laces. They are sending me off, my dear, with a leather-cutter and a cobbler's awl." "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

15. And she replied, "Thou shouldst have answered them, O pimp of a sweeper.* Thou shouldst have said, "I know not how to use them.'" "I did, my sweeperess say that to them, but they heard me not at all." "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

* This is really a term of affection, much as we sometimes use abusive words in an affectionate sense, or talk of a "pour devil" in the language of pity.

16. The roll-call was cried for the artisans, and a demand was made for workers in iron. Each came bearing his anvil on his head, and leaning on his tongs as if they were a stick. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

17. The blacksmiths grumbled and complained, "Where are we to look for coals? How can we aright arrange our smithy?" Put somehow or other the officials made a makeshift for them, and set them a-forging horseshoes. "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

18. Very pleased did I become, and, mighty good it seemed to me that last of all they impressed the barber and the carpenter (of my village), and that I saw them running after the others each with a kerchief of food in his hand** "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

** A thoroughly Kashmiri sentiment quite in keeping with the villager's indifference to the troubles of others. The author was evidently on bad terms with the barber and carpenter of his village Stein).

19. Their wives are holding a conference with each other. Say they, "Who is, then, now to support the barber's wife and that carpenter's wife? We shall have to earn our livelihood by hiring ourselves out for spinning thread." "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

20. Sabir Oilman*** only so much say, so long as they shall pay heed unto the news. At length came the Sahib with all his retinue, saying, "Yarkand will we conquer for ourselves."

*** The name of the poet

Hatim's Tales