1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . 57 



approach, and the thieves were soon surrounded, and cut up. Ahmad Shah 

 was there in person. I met him on the field of battle. He said he was so happy 

 at having destroyed the robbers, and seeing me there, that if he were at Iskardo, 

 he did not know what he should do to manifest his joy. We all sat down in a 

 large ring. His sepoys shewing their wounds, and I administered pills, to keep 

 off fever. Of the thieves some returned, 71 killed, 15 escaped ; but I don't think 

 there were so many. They treated the wounded men horribly. Tlie enemy came 

 from the neighbourhood of Peshaur, and were driving off men, women, and cattle. 

 I am delighted with the old Rajah. He appears to have some excellent English 

 ideas about him, and enjoyed the scene amazingly. The book, said to have been 

 written by the old Missionary, does not, he assures me, exist. He shewed me an 

 Armenian Testament that he had bought of some pedlar, which probably gave 

 rise to the report. His faith in the theory of his descent from Alexander is 

 strong. He talks freely of every thing in and about the country, and has sent 

 out men to procure me all kinds of curiosities. We make an excursion to a hot 

 spring on the road to Yarkand in a day or two, and shall have some shikar, &c. 

 I shall quit this extraordinary place, (a vale partly desert, washed by the Attock, 

 a noble stream, quarter mile wide, some 15 miles long, and surrounded by bare 

 rugged mountains on every side, of vast height,) in about 12 days or so: the snow 

 will then begin to fall. I expect a cold march of it. He is very proud of his rock 

 crystal, of which I can bring away as much as I please. As to the productions 

 of the valley, I am making myself fully master of them. He refuses no sort of 

 information. The fort is on a rock covered with alluvial soil, raised in the very 

 centre of the valley, from the bed of what was once most likely a lake. In size, 

 shape, and appearance, washed on two sides of the river, it bears some resem- 

 blance to Subathu ; as to the works, a few shells for the wood, and round shot for 

 the stone, would destroy them in a few hours. It would be ridiculous (certain 

 death) to attempt going to Yarkand. Since Moorcroft was at Ladakh, they 

 have got the picture of an Englishman, so I am assured, painted on the wall, 

 that all who see one may know him. Yarkand is about a month's march — a 

 harkara could go in 12 days. I am going to a classical sort of equestrian sport 

 in a day or two, such as I was happy to hear remarked was played in the time of 

 Iskander. It had struck me that the course was precisely the shape of the course 



of Caracalla at Rome." 



" Cashmir, 23rd October, 1835. 



" Here I am safe and well ; arrived yesterday after a very severe march of 

 25 days from Iskardo, over as rough roads, if they deserve the name, as can be 

 seen any where, I have with me four Yaks and all kinds of things. I hope to 

 start hence in about 10 days, and shall come the shortest road to Lahor. So 

 pray oblige me by making some arrangements about the Indus. I should like to 

 hire a boat, men, &c. It must be big enough to carry my Yaks. They are not 

 tall but heavy. I expect Baron Hugel here in two or three days, and suspect I 

 shall have a very narrow escape of stopping another year in India, but must do 

 every thiDg I can to get off in time." 



" Cashmir, 30th October, 1835. 



" I wrote to you a few days ago, to mention my safe return, but forget to send 

 the enclosed inscriptions. Pray post them off at your earliest convenience to 

 Csoma de Koros, author of the Tibetan Dictionary, or some person compe- 

 tent to undertake their examination and request a translation, if possible, and 

 soon ; with my compliments. I began my panoramic view from the Tukht 

 I 



