Diary Of A Pedestrian Cashmere And Thibet

· 1863 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1IN CASHMERE AND THIBET. 267

2under their garments.* Among other artists I

3discovered a native painter, rather an uncommon

4trade in these parts, from whom I obtained some

5original designs, illustrating, with uncommon bril-

6liancy, the very common ceremonies of Hindoo

7and Mahomedan Shadees, or marriage proces-

8sions, and other manners and customs of native

9life.

10After getting together everything we re-

11quired for the road, and clearing out the whole

12of our possessions, much to the inconvenience of

13several large standing armies of fleas, we finally

14took our departure in two boats, manned by

15twelve boatmen, and started for Baramoula, on

16the road to Muree and the plains.

17October 2 . — After making but little progress

18during the night, we discovered in the morning

19that our boats were rather too large for the

20river, in its present weakly and reduced state.

21Every ten minutes we found ourselves aground

22upon the sand and mud, and the cooking boat

23behind us followed our example, while the river

24ahead showed no prospect whatever of deepen-

25The value wliich a Kashmirian sets upon his Kangri ma;y be

26known by the following distich : —

27“ Oh Kangri ! Oh Kangri !

28You are the gift of Houris and Fairies ;

29Y'hen I take you under my arm

30You drive away fear from my heart/’ — V ighe.