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 " ^ — 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 



I 

 /^leins 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-o-a-oo-ooa," nasally, with variations and 

 cadenza ad lihitum, 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, sucli 

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



