334 CASHMERE. 



my tackle in order, but from the report of the low state 

 of the river and clearness of the water did not anticipate 

 sport ; still thought I ought to try, so started off at four, 

 and tried two favourite pools which were so still and 

 clear that I remained but a short time, judging that all 

 attempts would be vain to catch a big one, and I cared 

 not for a small one. So I wound up and returned, no 

 ways disappointed, the sun now setting and the effects 

 charming. 



I read to-day in a back number of the Lahore 

 Chronicle a letter signed ' Traveller,' purporting to be a 

 just representation of the condition of the Cashmiries 

 under the Maharajah's rule, which he describes to be 

 most satisfactory the whole country highly cultivated, 

 inhabitants well off and contented, and signs of good 

 government and prosperity everywhere. A man of small 

 powers of observation might possibly be deceived to such 

 an extent, however difficult, but when this scribbler 

 comes to draw comparisons between the Maharajah's and 

 the British government favourable to the former, especially 

 in the matter of the repair of roads a process altogether 

 unknown in the Maharajah's dominions one cannot help 

 suspecting the writer to have been tempted by a douceur ; 

 to have been engaged by the Maharajah specially thus to 

 misrepresent facts, and give a false colour to realities in 

 Cashmere, in order to mislead the public, and blind distant 

 enquirers as to the nature of the Maharajah's rule and 

 the condition of his people. I can imagine no other 

 reason for such a palpable perversion of truth than seeing 

 objects through the golden hues of the Maharajah's 

 spectacles. 



25th October. I got a considerable wetting crossing 

 the river which though now so low is full of irregularities, 

 deep holes, and terrible smooth round stones. It is 



