20 
NARRATIVE. 
On the Pass itself there was no snow, but I saw a 
large mass in a ravine to the right under shelter of a 
steep cliff. This is one of the easiest passes leading 
into Kashmir, and is said to be crossed at all seasons 
without difficulty from snow. 
The country between Jamu and Kashmir being 
south of the snowy range, is under the full influence 
of the periodical rains which fall in July, August, 
and September. At other seasons as far as Mir it 
appears to be almost as hot and dry as the Punjab 
plains, judging from the scanty vegetation on the 
low hills. 
Beyond Mir the climate becomes much more 
moist and temperate as the snowy range is 
approached, and for forty miles south of the Pass the 
hills are covered with verdure, and the valleys and 
some of the mountain sides are laid out in terraced 
rice-fields ; along the valleys there are groves of 
alders, which often grow to a very large size. 
With the exception of the Chicore partridge, game 
is scarce, and large game is almost never seen either 
here or in any other part of these hills, except at a 
great distance from human habitations, and by those 
who go especially in search of it. This route to 
Kashmir is not open to European travellers without 
special permission from the Maharajah, as the road is 
not kept in the same repair as some of the others ; 
there are no arrangements at the halting-places for 
the supply of porters, baggage-animals, and pro- 
visions ; and without special arrangements the 
passage through the country of even a single 
European traveller is apt at times to cause very great 
inconvenience to the people. 
