Page:Ollivier-Beauregard - Kachmir et Tibet.djvu/112

Cette page a été validée par deux contributeurs.

Dard n’est franchement acceptée par aucune portion des tribus à qui elle est si libéralement prodiguée ; que c’est à peine si, dans des circonstances particulières, elle est appliquée par une tribu à ses voisins »^[1].

Pour M. Biddulph, les tribus du Dardistan sont races abâtardies et méconnaissables.

« Séduits, dit-il, par la beauté, justement célèbre même encore aujourd’hui, des femmes des contrées acquises par leurs ancêtres, les Dards ont dès longtemps compromis par leurs préférences les caractères distinctifs de leur race originelle^[2]. Il est impossible, dit M. le major Biddulph, en considérant ces races tout spécialement désignées par la dénomination de Dard, de ne pas constater qu’elles sont en complète décadence. Au sud et à l’ouest, pressées par les Afghans, à l’est par les Tartares et en partie par les Kachmiri, au nord par les Tadjicks, les Dards ne peuvent manquer d’être supplantés et absorbés par leurs voisins^[3]…

« Les Dards sont sans aucune autre industrie que l’agriculture. Ils sont sans énergie. Ils ne se sentent ni humiliés par la misère, ni excités par le succès de leurs voisins… Ils sont destinés à disparaître prochainement^[4]… »

that of the languages spoken, by the broken tribes in the Indus. (Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh, major Biddulph, chap. xiv, p. 156.)

↑ The name Dard is not acknowledged by any section of the tribes to whom it has been so sweepingly applied. In a single instance the term is applied by ones to some of their neighbours. (Même ouvrage, chap. xiv, p. 156-157.)
↑ In the process of occupation of this country, they (the Dards Boorish) must have subdued the aryan (Siah Posh) inhabitants, whose women were probably not less sought after for their beauty then than at the present day, and in this way and by absorbing the tribes already occupying the ground, they gained a sufficient infusion of aryan blood to alter their type of feature and their general characteristics. (Major Biddalph, Tribes of Hindoo Koosh, chap. xiv, p. 160.)
↑ It is impossible to view the so called Dards closely without recognising that they are a decadent race, from the south and west the Pathan, from the east the Tartar, and in less degree the Cachmiri, and from the north the Tajik, are steadily pressing upon and supplanting them. (Même ouvrage, chap. xiv, p. 164.)
↑ Their want of energy and adaptability, their unwillingness to employ

[1] The name Dard is not acknowledged by any section of the tribes to whom it has been so sweepingly applied. In a single instance the term is applied by ones to some of their neighbours. (Même ouvrage, chap. xiv, p. 156-157.)

[2] In the process of occupation of this country, they (the Dards Boorish) must have subdued the aryan (Siah Posh) inhabitants, whose women were probably not less sought after for their beauty then than at the present day, and in this way and by absorbing the tribes already occupying the ground, they gained a sufficient infusion of aryan blood to alter their type of feature and their general characteristics. (Major Biddalph, Tribes of Hindoo Koosh, chap. xiv, p. 160.)

[3] It is impossible to view the so called Dards closely without recognising that they are a decadent race, from the south and west the Pathan, from the east the Tartar, and in less degree the Cachmiri, and from the north the Tajik, are steadily pressing upon and supplanting them. (Même ouvrage, chap. xiv, p. 164.)

[p112-4] Their want of energy and adaptability, their unwillingness to employ

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]