Use of Juniper for Snuff Production and Air Purification
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My name is Ashiq Hussain and I am working as an additional secretary in the Gilgit Baltistan assembly. I will share with you from Astore District things which I have learned from my grandmother. She showed me that the wild juniper tree [Juniperus seravschanica Kom.], locally known as chilhi, was used for lighting fire and several other purposes. Both of my grandparents used snuff locally called naswar, which is nowadays available in the market from unknown origins. At that time, snuff was made at home from juniper that was commonly present and easily accessible in the area. It would be cut and kept for a few days until it changes its colour. Thereafter it would be burned to ash. The ash would then be mixed with water after which the snuff was ready for use. My grandparents were addicted to this snuff which I have witnessed myself. Also, the smoke of this juniper would be used in the living areas and in cattle barns to chase bad spirits, jinns or ghosts away. In addition, many insects, in psharticular the red coloured insect locally known as paijo and lice would die from effective smoke cleaning practice. I have also heard that [the smoke of] the juniper tree was involved in the spiritual defeat of dajjal in the districts of Astore, Bagrot, and Gilgit. I haven't met anyone but heard a lot about a practice which hypnotizes the dajjal after inhaling the smoke of juniper. He would be taken into some fairy world and give predictions about the future which often became true. Apart from juniper there are a lot of mushrooms in the forest area of which one type, wild mushrooms locally called bish is poisonous and the other one is non-poisonous, but both have the same white colour. When I took my cattle to the pasture for grazing, I have observed even animals differentiate between poisonous and edible mushrooms that are locally a known as kicholi. In the forests of Astore Valley they are abundant but have a short shelf life.
Another tale from my grandfather recounts that his father once experienced an unusual encounter on summer pasture where they used to fish in the river. For this purpose, special baskets were made from strings of the willow trees locally called beyon tree. These baskets had multiple uses and were common also in other districts such as Hunza and Skardu where women would carry this basket on their back to carry different items. The story happened in the Thoye, a place 40-50 kilometers from Astore where my grandfather placed basket in the stream before leaving to Shikar. There he [and his friends] would rest, cook, and spend their time in a single room. During night an old man with a white skin and long hair appeared in front of them and told them to go and check as their baskets were full of fish. When they went they were surprised to see that the old man was right. The baskets were full of fish. The disappeared old man was named sabdaq and he was considered to be a good spirit even if our parents used to scare us from going outside by saying: Don't go otherwise sabdaq will come.
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