22 
been hollowed out, were nestled the two infant children of the 
exhibitor. The pepper tree was beautiful in its foliage, flowers, 
and fruit, and afforded grateful shade. Touching upon the 
climate, Mr. Kay remarked that during the five months of his 
stay at various places in Southern California they had five days 
with some rain, six days on which rain fell almost continuously, 
and perhaps four days when there was some fog, which cleared 
at mid-day. On two days there was a hot, unpleasant desert 
wind. As for the rest of the time, the sun shone from a 
cloudless sky, the heat being tempered by a pleasant sea-breeze, 
making the air most delightful. California may be reached by 
several routes, the season of the year determining which to 
adopt. The distance from New York to Santa Barbara is about 
3,500 miles, and the cost of a railway ticket, including sleeping 
berth, drawing room, and meals, is 200 to 220 dollars. The 
time occupied on the trip is seven to eight days. 
KASHMIR, the Highway of Central Asia. 
by REV. J. 8. DOXEY, January 22nd, 1884. 
A hearty welcome was accorded Mr. Doxey, inasmuch as in 
the earlier days of the Club he had afforded great assistance to 
it, and also on account of his return from his missionary labours 
in North India, In introducing the subject, Mr. Doxey dwelt 
upon the magnitude and vital importance of our Indian Empire, 
commenting upon the widespread ignorance which exists in this 
country in relation to India, its people, wants, and resources. 
He then turned his attention to the trade of the country of 
Kashmir, and pointed out the natural features of the country and 
its situation in relation to the provinces in Central Asia and 
their great trading centres. Of the Vale of Kashmir, Moore, in 
his celebrated poem, ‘‘ Lalla Rookh,”’ had referred to it as a spot 
of unsurpassing loveliness. It was surprising that though the 
poet had never visited Kashmir his description was remarkably 
accurate. The Persians said of this lovely valley, ‘‘ Kashmir 
without an equal, Kashmir equal to Paradise.”” It was hemmed 
in by the gigantic peaks of the Himalaya range, towering up 
25,000 feet in height, and the vale might be likened to a gem 
set amidst barren grandeur. ‘The routes to Kashmir from Central 
Asia were then described. Hach of them presented many 
difficulties, and to an invading army would offer most serious 
obstacles. He described the difficulties which would attend the 
progress of, say, a Russian army in proposing to invade India 
through Kashmir. The roads reaching Kashmir from India 
were much better, and one of these was open all the year round, 
