THE DUAL LAKE. 3<J 



down the river, and then through the Apple-tree Canal 

 which turns hack almost parallel to it. The entrance to the 

 lake is only about half-a-mile on foot from our bungalow, 

 and not far from the bachelors' quarters, or rather camping- 

 ground, for there is nothing else. But as usual the 

 bachelors have the best of it. Their camping-ground is 

 in a lovely situation on the hanks of the Apple-tree Canal, 

 and shaded by a group of enormous chanar trees. These 

 chanars (a large kind of plane tree) are scattered along 

 the banks of the river and dot the valley with beautiful 

 clumps, reminding one of an English park. Curiously 

 enough, they are not indigenous, but planted, I believe, 

 by the Mogul Emperors. 



The entrance to the lake is closed by a pair of 

 wooden gates, arranged to shut inwards when the Jhelum 

 rises too high, and so prevent its waters flooding the 

 lake. Once inside the gates a network of canals weave 

 themselves in and out, cutting the land into numberless 

 little islets. It is a good hour's row before the open part 

 of the lake is reached. This is covered with bulrushes, 

 reeds and naos huge leaves of lotus and water-lily floating 

 between. In the spring, 1 believe, the latter are lovely, 

 one mass of pink, blue, and yellow, and white flowers; 

 but now everything is withered and dried up, and the 

 peasants pass in boats piled up with rushes to thatch their 

 houses before winter sets in. 



