SHAWL-WEAVERS. 161 



Chenars, or beside fountains and miniature cascades at the 

 Shalimar or Nishat gardens, and returning in the bright moon- 

 light, your boatmen keeping time with their paddles to some 

 wild Cashmere lay; or visiting the shawl-merchants' shops 

 and sipping spiced tea whilst inspecting their beautiful wares, 



The Gondola, of Cashmere. 



were all very delightful by way of rest after hard mountain 

 work. And here I may remark, with respect to the shawl 

 fabrics, that if some of their fair wearers could behold the 

 half-starved emaciated creatures who weave them, they would 

 not rest so lightly on their shoulders. I noticed that many of 

 these poor artisans had a permanent squint, acquired, I was 

 told, from being kept so constantly employed at their primi- 

 tive hand-looms on this fine work. 



Charming as the dolce far niente style of life in this be- 

 witching valley was for a time, I returned ere long to the 

 ibex and bears among the mountains. As I have probably 

 said more than enough about ibex-hunting, I shall not tire 

 the reader with a repetition of it, but commence another 

 chapter of wild sport in quite a different locality. 



their foundations of matted reeds and grass so constructed as to be quite dis- 

 connected with the bottom of the lake. In order to prevent their being drifted 

 away, they are attached to long poles driven into the bed of the lake where it 

 is rather shallow. They are used chiefly for the growth of melon, cucumber, 

 and suchlike plants. 



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