208 



MARTUND. 



manding an extensive view of "the vale," lying some 2000 

 feet below. Even my native companions seemed impressed 

 with the exquisite loveliness of the prospect ; for the Cash- 

 meree, although small-minded in many ways, still has in his 

 soul a spice of romantic admiration for his beautiful father- 

 land. At the foot of the range we were on lay the dreary, 

 treeless plateau, where, in the centre, stands the massive old 

 ruin of the Temple of the Sun " Martund " 1 lonely and 

 grand ; whilst far beyond it, and all smiling in the mellow 

 evening sunlight, stretched the broad green vale away to- 

 wards the distant mountains rising blue and snow-capped 



Ruins of the Temple of the Sun" Martund." 



on either side, its tortuous streams winding along like 

 shimmering threads of gold until lost in the gauzy haze. 

 . . . " Grro-o-o-6-a-oo-ooa," nasally, with variations and 

 cadenza ad libitum, goes a stag in the forest behind us, 



1 This noble old structure by the natives called " Pandoo lurrie" (Pandoo 

 house) is, I believe like the ancient ruins I have mentioned as situated be- 

 tween Uri and Baramoola, which, on a larger scale, it somewhat resembles 

 of doubtful origin. From the symbolical figures it contains, it is, however, 

 pretty certain that it was at one period dedicated to the worship of the Hindu 

 triad Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. A noteworthy feature of its architecture 

 is the keystone of the arches, which is formed of a solid T-shaped block, such 

 as I have endeavoured to depict in my little sketch of this ruin, 



