KASHMIR. 247 



land in it. "We are not even allowed to stay there 

 through the winter; for a recent relaxation of this 

 rule has been much misunderstood, and simply 

 amounts to a permission for British officers, who 

 cannot get leave in summer, to visit Kashmir in 

 winter. Visitors have to leave the country about 

 the middle of October, and the Panjab Government 

 has issued very strict rules for their guidance while 

 they are in the Valley. After mentioning the four 

 authorised routes for European visitors to Kashmir, the 

 first rule goes on to say (the italics are its own) : "All 

 other roads are positively forbidden ; and, in respect 

 to the direct road from Jummoo (known as the 

 Bunnihal route), the prohibition has been ordered at 

 the special request of his Highness the Maharajah. 

 The road branching from Rajaoree by Aknoor, which 

 is used by the Maharajah's family and troops, is also 

 expressly prohibited." lS r ow this Jamii and Banihal 

 route is by much the shortest and much the easiest 

 route to Kashmir except for the small section of 

 visitors who come from that part of the Panjab which 

 lies to the west of the Jhelam ; and yet it is kept 

 closed, at the Maharajah's special request, though 

 another route is set apart for the movements between 

 Srinagar and Jamil of his family and troops ! In fact, 

 by this order, in order to get a tolerable route, the 

 traveller has to cross great part of the Panjab and go 

 up by Rawal Pindi and Mari, for neither the Pir 

 Panjal nor the Punah routes are convenient. In Rule 



VOL. VI. R 



