416 A Sketch ofilie Mahomedan History of Cashmere. [No. 5. 



This prince improved the country more than any of his prede- 

 cessors. He built bridges, towns, and forts, (Zein Kuddul, Zein- 

 pore, Zein Kote, &c.) and erected at Naoshera a noble palace (twelve 

 stories high, each story of fifty rooms) : he constructed the Lank 

 island, upon which he built a mosque and a summer-house (to be 

 seen there to the present day) on the site of an ancient temple, 

 whose summit was at that time visible above the waters of the 

 "Wuler Lake (1443) : he also enlarged and beautified the city of 

 Srinugur his capital. This great prince encouraged literature and the 

 fine arts ; he introduced into the country weavers from Turkisthan 

 and wool from Thibet ; and many manufactures, such as paper- 

 making, glass-making, book-binding, &c. owe their introduction in 

 Cashmere to his fostering care. He was well versed in the litera- 

 ture of his age, acquired several languages and translated books. 

 He collected a library and invited to his court learned men of all 

 kinds — amongst others Jumal, a Hindustani, became " Kazi" of 

 Cashmere, and a sort of inquisitor general into the religion of 

 Islam. Zein-ul-ab-ood-deen was also a poet and added to his other 

 qualities a love of field sports. The rising power of the Chukk 

 tribe did not escape the penetrating eye of the king who prophesied, 

 they would some day be rulers of Cashmere, a prediction which 

 eventually proved correct. 



Altogether Cashmere seems to have made a great step towards an 

 improved civilization during the reign of this great prince, which 

 extended over a period of fifty-two years. He died in 1474, and 

 was succeeded by his son Hyder Shah, A. D. 1474, who after 

 reigning little more than a year was killed by a fall from his palace, 

 A. D. 1475, and was succeeded by his son Sultan Hussan, a 

 prince of a very voluptuous and sensual character. Hitherto a 

 tribute of twelve lakhs of rupees and a thousand horses had been 

 exacted from the surrounding states, which, now encouraged by the 

 king's indolence, asserted their own independence, and thus only 

 Cashmere proper remained to him. However Tazie Khan, his 

 commander-in-chief, invaded the Punjaub with a view of chastising 

 the chief of that country, Tattar Khan, who had afforded aid to 

 the rebels. This king Sultan Hussan reigned twelve years in 

 excess and drunkenness, when he died leaving the throne to his 



