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<p>Dardistan situated between the frontiers of Kashmir and Afghanistan is mentioned in Greek and Roman texts. Many Greek and Roman writers such as Arrian Strabo Alexandrius and Pliny the Elder have described the region in their respective accounts. The ancient Gandhara was located in this region. However this region came into much prominence under the British. This work by Leitner is an ethnographical study of the region in the late nineteenth century. The first half of the account covers various legends customs and songs composed in the region which were mostly composed in Shina a dialect spoken in Kashmir Valley. Folklores containing demons customs old fables manners etc. are covered. The author touches upon different aspects of human life birth ceremonies marriage funeral holidays and also different governments formed in this region. Special emphasis is given to areas like Gilgit Yasin Chitral Nagyr Hunza etc. Chronology of the history of Dards wars against Kashmir etc. is mentioned. Another important aspect covered is the religions geog¬raphy castes and races of the Dardistan. The latter half has appen¬dices containing various events in Chilas and Chitrals languages anthropological observations sciences and secret religions practiced in the region. About the Author G.W. Leitner (18401899) was a Hungarian born British Orientalist and a linguist. He studied Turkish Arabic and other languages and was appointed as the interpreter to the British commissariat in Crimea. He was also appointed as a professor in Arabic and Islamic law at King’s College London. He became the principal of Government College University Lahore in 1864 and was the pioneer to establish the Uni¬versity of the Punjab Lahore in 1882 and became a registrar. He retired from ICS in 1886 and was awarded the KaiseriHind. His works include The SininiIslam The Races of Turkey Introduction to a Philosophical Grammar of Arabic: Being an Attempt to Discover a Few Simple Principles in Arabic Grammar History of Indigenous Education in the Punjab since Annexation and in 1882 etc.</p>
