The main argument of the present note is an etymology of previously unexplained word mušti/mыšti decoration, necklace, beads in several languages of the Pamir-Hindukush mountain knot: Wakhi, Ishkashimi, Yidgha, Khowar. We see here an old loan from Sogdian /muž/miž/, plural /mužt/mižt/ beads, seals. The historical records support clear information about Sogdian merchants trading in the highlands between Middle Asia, North India and Tarim Basin. We can even hypothesize that for trading with local peoples (who up to ethnographic modernity preferred to use barter exchange rather than monetary exchange) the Sogdians used beads instead of coins: there are numerous fi nds of beads on the Pamir archaeological sites contrary extremely rare coins.