170 



AFOOT THROUGH THE 



house-boats were lying, groups of people dining out 

 either beneath the great plane trees o* on the roofs of 

 their boats. 



Many of these floating houses are very prettily built. 

 One I saw on the stocks was in two colours dark 

 walnut and light pine and every part of it was being 

 exquisitely finished; the ceiling constructed of small 

 pieces of wood, pieced together into charming designs. 



House -boat, Srinagar 



Landing just below the house-boats, I walked back 

 across the golf links and the large polo ground to the 

 river bank to talk to an old friend, the Sikh postmaster, 

 a man of extensive learning, and even wider sympathies. 

 Much had he told me of his religion and his early 

 studies, his readings in Sanskrit, and his dippings into 

 foreign creeds, but for all his searchings he found his 



