1809.] 
SOIL AND CLIMATE OF THE VALLEY. 
123 
79 . It will be useful to refer liere briefly to the data we possess 
Old ethnography regarding the old ethnography of Kasmir and 
of Kasmir. the adjacent hill regions. 
As far as Kasmir itself is concerned our information does not allow 
us to connect any particular localities with ethnic divisions. Judging 
h-om Kalhana’s Chronicle and what other sources of information-are 
available to us, the population of Kasmir has shown already in old times 
the same homogeneity that it does at present. The physical aud ethnic 
characteristics which so sharply mark off the Kasmlrl from all surround¬ 
ing races, have always struck observant visitors to the Valley and have 
hence often been described. 1 Hiuen Tsiang’s brief sketch reproduced 
above is the earliest in date and ye t applies closely to the modern 
inhabitants. 
That the Kasmlris form a branch of the race which brought the 
languages of the Indo-Aryan type into India, is a fact established by the 
evidence of their language and physical appearance. But when their 
settlement in the country took place, and from which direction they 
immigrated, are questions beyond the present range of historical 
research. The purity of race which has often been noted as distinguish¬ 
ing the great mass of the Kasmir population, may be admitted with a 
qualification. It is probably due not only to the country’s natural 
isolation but also to a curious faculty for absorbing foreign elements. 
Colonies of Mughals, Pathans, Panjabis, and Paliarls, settled within 
comparatively recent times in the Valley, are being amalgamated with 
remarkable rapidity through intermarriage and other means. 
The complete absorption of these settlements which is going on 
under our own eyes as it were, furnishes a 
likely analogy for the ethnic history of earlier 
times. We have reason to assume that Kasmir 
has also in Hindu times been often under 
foreign rule. It is difficult to believe that the reign of foreign dynasties 
has not been accompanied also by settlements of immigrants of the same 
nationality. But it is not likely that these foreign colonies were ever 
extensive. In any case we find no trace of their having retained a 
distinct and independent existence. 
Various tribal sections of the population are mentioned in Kalhana’s 
narrative, but we have no means of deciding to what extent they were 
based on race or caste distinctions. The names of the Lavanycis and 
Tantrins survive in ‘ Krams,’ or tribal names, still borue by sections of 
Absorption of 
foreign ethnic 
elements. 
1 For a general account of the Kasmlrl population Drew’s remarks, Jummoo , 
pp. 174 sqq., may still be recommended. Fuller details regarding the various 
classes, castes, etc., will be fouud in Mr. Lawrence’s work, pp. 302 sqq. 
