10 
NARRATIVE. 
Kashmir, is a considerable town situated on the first 
range of low hills which bound the Panjdb plains, 
twenty-five miles to the north-east of the large military 
station of Syalkot. The town overlooks the Tovi, a 
tributary of the Chenab ; it is very crowded, and very 
irregularly built on a hill which slopes towards the 
south-west, and the streets are most of them steep, 
and all dirty. 
The palace at the northern and'^higher end of the 
town is a rather imposing structure ; placed on the 
very brink of a precipice which rises vertically from 
the stream below, and its appearance from a short 
distance is rather picturesque. 
Water, for the supply of the palace and part of the 
town, is said to be raised from the stream by steam 
power and distributed in pipes, an example which 
will probably soon be imitated in our Panjdb towns; 
The Maharajah is fond of mechanics, and has several 
European engineers in his employ. 
My intention was to start in the evening to join 
Mr. Forsyth, who, as already mentioned, was encamped 
forty-five miles distant ; but as it seemed the correct 
thing to call on the Maharajah, I intimated my wish 
to do so to the official, who according to custom came 
to ask after my welfare — mizdj pursi as it is called — • 
and said I would call at any hour which was most con- 
venient for His Highness. In the evening an official 
came to inform me that, if quite convenient for me, the 
Maharajah would be delighted to see me at 8 a.m. 
next morning, and that an elephant would be sent to 
convey me to the palace. 
Next morning accordingly I went. The visit was 
a rather ceremonious one, and the conversation 
