cofses; answering to about 51 G. miles; but as Sirinagur lies out of the direct line between the two (as is proved by the construction), perhaps 50 G. miles, or 58 British, may be the true distance. But this is not the greatest extent of the valley; since it has been shewn that the Ouller lake, by its position and dimensions must necefsarily extend to a point much more distant from Sirinagur, than Barehmooleh does; although the exact quantity of the distance cannot be ascertained. And on the other hand, Mr. Forster entered the S E end of the valley at Durroo, or Surroo, 5 cofses before he came to Islamabad: of course, Durroo must lie beyond the head of the Behut. These circumstances considered, Mr. Forster's estimate of 80 British miles for the length of the valley, supposing it to be meant for the flat part of it, appears to exceed the truth by a very few miles only; for 74 or 75 can very clearly be made out. But he reckoned it only 40 in breadth, which appears much too little; and I suppose it to be 50, or more: for Heerapour, at the entrance of the valley from the side of Bember (the south side), is 11 Acbaree cofses, or nearly 25 British miles, across from Sirinagur; and Lar, according to Bernier, is about as far from Sirinagur, as Barehmooleh is; 27 B. miles: but as Sirinagur does not lie directly between Heerapour and Lar (for the former bears about S from Sirinagur; and Lar, by the Ayin Acbaree, is in the NE quarter from Sirinagur), a considerable angle takes place, and may probably reduce the 52 miles, to 50 in direct distance.

By order of Jehanguire, the length and breadth of the province of Cashmere, or rather, probably, the roads through and across it, were measured; and the dimensions, 56 Acbaree cofses, by 27, were registered accordingly (Kirkp. MSS). But these dimensions regard the political boundaries only: because Bholbas, the western frontier, is said to be 18 of these cofses within the mountains below Barehmooleh. And in the opposite, or south-east quarter, the valley of Banhal, a dependency of Cashmere, lies at

the distance of several cofses beyond the great circle of mountains that surrounds the valley of Cashmere (Forster, Vol. I. p. 224). This district of Banhal is placed in the Ayin Acbaree on the southeast of Sirinagur (Vol. II. p. 108. of the Tukseem Jumma), and this may be adduced as a proof that Mr. Forster entered Cashmere by the south-east; and also that the valley of Cashmere has a S E and NW position.

As Jehanguire's measurement leaves at least 84 B. miles for the length of the valley above Barehmooleh, and 60 for the greatest breadth, it may be supposed that it included the slope of the mountains, as well as the level or hollow part of the valley; and that the term of the distance eastward, was the summit of mount Kantel, described by Desideri, as the common boundary of Cashmere and Great Thibet (Lett. Edif. Vol. XV. p. 190). The dimensions given in the Ayin Acbaree are not to be regarded, being estimated only; for Jehanguire's measurement took place long after that book was compiled. In the same book, we find Cashmere divided into two parts, namely, MERAJE, and KAMRAJE; the former being (as is expressed in Vol. II. p. 170.) the eastern part, and containing the districts situated to the east, the SE, and the N E, of Sirinagur: and the latter, the western part, containing the N W and S W districts.

With respect to general position, Cashmere is bounded on the west, by the district of Puckholi; on the S W by the territory of the Ghickers; on the SE by that of Jummoo; and on the east, by the river Chunaub: Great Thibet lies on the north-east; and Little Thibet on the north-west. In the Ayin Acbaree, from whence this account is transcribed, there is often a great want of accuracy in the article of bearings; and the intermediate points are often meant for the cardinal ones; and vice versa. But in the description of the boundaries of Cashmere, there appears to be more consistency than usual.

The capital of Cashmere has the same name as the province,

according to Mr. Forster, and M. Bernier: but the Ayin Acbaree, at an earlier period, names it Sirinagur.* It is a large city, and built on both sides of the river Behut, which has a remarkable smooth current throughout the whole valley (according to Mr. Forster); and this proves the remarkable flatness of the country, as the body of water is very large.

The valley or country of Cashmere, is celebrated throughout upper Asia for its romantic beauties, for the fertility of its soil, and for the temperature of its atmosphere. All these particulars may be accounted for, when it is considered, that it is an elevated and extensive valley, surrounded by steep mountains, that tower above the regions of snow; and that its soil is composed of the mud deposited by a capital river, which originally formed its waters into a lake, that covered the whole valley; until it opened itself a passage through the mountains, and left this fertilized valley, an ample field to human industry, and to the accommodation of a happy race for such the ancient inhabitants of Cashmere undoubtedly were.

Although this account has no living testimony to support it, yet history and tradition, and what is yet stronger, appearances, have impressed a conviction of its truth, on the minds of all those who have visited the scene, and contemplated the different parts of it.

The author of the Ayin Acbaree dwells with rapture on the beauties of Cashmere: whence we may conclude that it was a favourite subject with his master Acbar, who had visited it three times before Abul Fazil wrote. Other emperors of Hindoostan visited it also, and seemed to forget the cares of government, during their residence in the happy valley. It appears that the periodical rains, which almost deluge the rest of India, are shut out of Cashmere by the height of the mountains; so that only light showers

In the revenue books, the province of Cashmere is written JENNET-NUZEER, or the PARADISE-RESEMBLING Soubah. (Kirkp. MSS.)

fall there: these, however, are in abundance enough to feed some thousands of cascades, which are precipitated into the valley, from every part of the stupendous and romantic bulwark that encircles it. The soil is the richest that can be conceived; and its productions those of the temperate zone. A vast number of streams and rivers from all quarters of the valley, bring their tribute to the Behut or Jhylum, the parent of the soil; a large navigable river, in which we recognize the famous Hydaspes of Alexander, who crossed it about 100 miles below its outlet from the valley. Many lakes are spread over the surface, and some of them contain floating islands. In a word, the whole scenery is beautifully picturesque; and a part of the romantic circle of mountains, makes up a portion of every landscape. The pardonable superstition of the sequestered inhabitants, has multiplied the places of worship of Mahadeo, of Bishen, and of Brama. All Cashmere is holy land; and miraculous fountains abound. One dreadful evil they are constantly subject to, namely, earthquakes; and to guard against their most terrible effects, all the houses are built of wood; of which there is no want.

Among other curious manufactures, with which Cashmere abounds, is that of the shawls; which are distributed over all the western and southern Asia. We learn from M. Volney, that they even make a part of the dress of the Egyptian Mamlouks: and at present (as if to exhibit the most striking contrast in the classes of wearers) they are worn by the English ladies. There remains no doubt, but that the delicate wool of which they are made, is the produce of a species of goat, either of that country, or of the adjoining one of Thibet. Notwithstanding the present extensive demand for shawls, the manufacture is declined to onefourth of the former quantity; which may be easily referred to the decline of the Persian and Hindoostanic empires. Here are sheep called Hundoo, which, like those of Peru, are employed in carrying burthens. The annual public revenue of Cashmere, in

the time of Aurungzebe, appears to have been only about 35,000l.* From what has been said above, it was, no doubt, a favoured province.

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The Cashmerians have a language of their own, said to be anterior to the Sanscrit. And it would appear that they had also a religion of their own, different from that of the Hindoos. Abul Fazil says, "the most respectable people of this country are the Reyshees, who, although they do not suffer themselves to be "fettered by traditions, are doubtless true worshippers of God." Nothing can exceed the liberality of mind both of Abul Fazil and of his master, the great Acbar: but the former appears to have caught some of the enthusiasm of the valley, by his descriptions of some of the holy places in it. To sum up the account of Cashmere, in the words of the same author, "It is a garden in perpetual "spring."

So far am I from doubting the tradition, respecting the existence of the lake that covered Cashmere, that appearances alone would serve to convince me, without either the tradition, or the history. It is a mere natural effect; and such, I apprehend, must be the economy of nature, in every case where the waters of a river, are inclosed in any part of their course, by elevated lands. The first consequence of this stoppage is, of course, the conversion of the inclosed lands into a lake: and if this happens near the fountains of the river, and the ground is solid, it is likely to remain a lake for ever; the river not having force enough in its infant state, to work itself a passage through the mountains. Hence it is that more lakes are found near the sources of rivers, than in the lower parts of their course. If the river be inclosed after it has gained a great accession of water, and of course, strength; it will indeed at first, form a lake, as before; but in time, the place at which it runs

Capt. Kirkpatrick's MSS. state the actual and realized revenues to have been about 25,000l. in the time of Shah Jehan; and only 20,000l, in that of Mahomed Shah. U