SHAWL- WEAVERS. 



127 



their paddles to some wild Cashmere lay ; or visiting the 

 j shawl-merchants' shops and sipping spiced tea whilst in- 

 specting their beautiful wares, — were all very delightful by 



^ A, 



I 



The Gondola of Cashmere. 



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 primitive 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. 



