768 Some account of the valley of Kashmir. [Sept. 



several yards from the shore. There is no mountain stream of any 

 size that pours its waters into this lake. The Singara is collected 

 here in great quantities. The Jelum flows along its south-western 

 edge ; it is fed by landsprings bubbling to the surface here and there, 

 and is very shallow generally. The city lake is fed by two streams ; 

 that on which the Shalumar is built and the Tail Bal, a deep and full 

 river 20 yards in width, which flows from the glacier behind the 

 Shalumar 9,000 feet in height. The greatest width of this lake 

 does not exceed 2^ miles. The lotus flower is abundant ; and more 

 than 50 different species of plants are in bloom during four months 

 in and near the water. The Shalumar is of polished black block 

 marble, 24 yards square, with a colonnade north-east and south-west : 

 ornaments copied from the Hindus. The lake has two islands and a 

 causeway. One is the Chehar Chenar (isle of Chenar) or Rupa Lauk 

 and the other Sona Lauk from the buildings that were on them. On the 

 latter island was a four-walled building used by the Patcins as a starv- 

 ing prison. There are perhaps 1,000 floating gardens that would be 

 taken for beds of reeds till they are looked into and the melons are 

 seen : 50 yards by 3 is the usual size, and each garden is sold for a 

 rupee or two. 



Seven kinds of flat-bottomed boats are used in Kashmir of the 

 dingee shape. They are propelled by paddles of deodar of 500 or 

 1,000 kirwahs each ; and are used for bringing rice to the city. 



When the river rises, the floodgates shut of themselves ; and pre- 

 vent the lake from damaging the country. This lake also is very 

 shallow. 



Between the Takht is Salwa 800 feet high ; and the fort on Hari 

 Parbat (350 feet) distant somewhat more than two miles apart, the 

 city lies on the edge of this lake, which is extended to the foot of 

 the mountains. 



As to the question of the valley having been drained, I am unwilling 

 to hazard a decided opinion till I have talked over the matter with 

 some experienced geologist. My impression is however that it has 

 been, from a height of about 200 feet above the level of Baramula. 

 I conceive that the soil and huge rounded granitic boulders overhang- 

 ing the bed of the Jelum in the Baramula pass, were formed before the 

 river had found its way out of the valley, and that it has gradually 

 worn its course over aud through them. At Ouri one long day from 

 Baramula, there is a rocky barrier drawn across the pass now divided 

 by the river, which must from its height, at least I think so, have kept 

 the bottom of the valley flooded for ages. Subsequently there must have 

 been a noble cataract there and at present Ouri is a sort of Kash- 



