206 WANDERINGS OF A 



The Vishau river is considered by the Cashmerees as the 

 parent of the Jhelum : it rises in the Kosa Nag lake, which 

 is fed by the melting snow and glacier in a hollow or an up- 

 land valley of the southern ranges. The river runs through 

 a narrow rocky glen, remarkable for picturesque grandeur. 

 The falls of Arabul are well worth a visit, as few localities in 

 the Cashmere mountains possess such attractive scenery. A 

 pathway leads from the village of Utu to within a short dis- 

 tance of the cataract. Pew Englishmen could sit on the 

 grassy banks, and witness the rare mountain beauty of Arabel 

 without a feeling that did Cashmere belong to England,' there 

 is no spot among aU its lovely scenery better suited for a 

 pic-nic. To one of us it brought back recollections of similar 

 mountain beauties 



" Among the rugged cliffs that guard 

 The infant rills of Highland Dee.'' 



I gathered wild asparagus (A. racemosus) and rhubarb, 

 thiuking to give my companions a treat ; but much to our 

 disappointment, although the asparagus looked excellent, it 

 had none of the esculent qualities of the cultivated plant. 

 In damp situations a, forget-me-not, niouse-eaxedL chickweed, 

 and sheep's sorrel were observed. A broad-leaved dock was 

 plentiful around the village of Hungipoor. 



The ring-dove is often seen in the valley, and frequents 

 bushy situations. 



I killed a red weasel (Mustela subhemachalana) close to 

 the hamlet of Utu, where we found it had destroyed several 

 young chickens and fowls' eggs. Its total length, including 

 tail, was 19 inches ; colour, an uniform light-brown, darker on 

 the back ; nose, mouth, and throat, white ; tail lax and taper- 

 ing. This handsome little creature is not uncommon in the 

 valley. I have seen several ermine-skins said to have been 



