19

As regards the antiquity of the game, an extract appeared on 12^th June, 1874, from the ‘History of the reign of the Emperor Manuel Commencer’s in ‘THE TIMES’ showing that the very same game was played at Constantinople in the middle of the twelfth century, and that even at that time it was considered an old as well as honorable game. Drew has given a translation from the Latin of that part of the extract which describes the game as played at that time. The extract is at appendix ‘B’.

It is interesting to note that the achievements of Ali Sher Khan have been attributed to his grandsons. Biddulph says that Ali Sher conquered the country to the westward as far as Chitral where he constructed the bridge over the river and planted a plane tree there which was still being pointed out. He had also constructed a polo ground at the mouth of Gilgit valley, which was still called ‘Maqpon Shawaran’ “the polo ground of the Maqpons”.

It may be made clear that countries lying towards the west viz. Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Chilas and as far as Chitral were first conquered by Ali Sher Khan. The Chinar tree was planted by him and the polo ground near the confluence of the Indus and the Gilgit rivers was also constructed by Ali Sher Khan. Hashmatullah after describing campaigns of Ali Sher Khan in Gilgit and Chitral relates “In order to commemorate his conquest Ali Sher Khan, planted a Chinar cutting which he passed through the hole of a mill stone. The Chinar tree is reported to have covered the stone.” According to Hashmatullah, the site where the Maqponi Shagharan is to be found must have remained his headquarters during his campaign in Gilgit. As regards the bridge near the Chitral for, it was built by Shah Murad brother of Ali Shah. Since Ali Shah and Sher Shah always acted as the commanders of Shah Murad’s army, especially in the west, it makes no difference whether it is stated that it was constructed by one brother or the other. The bridge was named ‘Cho Bridge’ meaning in Balti the ‘Royal Bridge’. Gazetteer of India has recorded that this Cho Bridge was constructed by Sultan Murad, the grandson of Shah Murad. The fact is that Sultan Murad merely repaired it.

Doctor Neve has mentioned that the Rajas of Kharmang, Khaplu, Shigar, Skardu, Rondu, Astore, Hunza and Nagar are all descendants from an early Raja of Hunza and that these families intermarried.