1 SIRINAGUR. 243
2 richest verdure, and ornamented with groves of noble plane-trees
3 and poplars. The floating gardens, formed of matted reeds,
4 weeds, and sedge, overlaid with earth, and bearing abundant crops
5 of melons and cucumbers, though on account of their singularity
6 attracting the notice of the traveller, form no feature in the
7 ‘landscape, being at a short distance nearly undistinguishable
8 from the contiguous bank. The scene is, however, enlivened by
9 the numerous boats employed in taking the fish with which the
10 lake abounds. Formerly many persons lived by taking the count-
11 less water-fow] which frequent the lake, but these are now un-
12 molested, in consequence of the strictly enforced orders of the
13 Sikh rulers. The appearance of the antique city falling piece-
14 meal into ruin, when viewed at some distance, is no unpleasing
15 feature in the prospect. ‘‘ The aspect'of the city itself is curious,
16 but not particularly striking.? It presents an innumerable assem-~ 7 Vise, Hl. 61.
17 blage of gable-ended houses, interspersed with the pointed and
18 metallic tops of musjis or mosques, melon-grounds, sedgy inlets
19 from the lake, and narrow canals, fringed with rows of willows
20 and poplars. The surface of the lake itself is perfectly tranquil,
21 and the very vivid reflections which cover its surface ate only
22 disturbed by the dabbling of wild-fowl, or the rippling that fol-
23 lows the track of the distant boat.” In the more prosperous
24 ages of Kashmir, this lake was the scene of the frequent pleasure-
25 parties of the volatile and voluptuous Kashmirians. According
26 to Forster,3 ‘ when a Kashmirian, even of the lowest order, finds * er neg: Rng.
27 himself in the possession of a few shillings, he loses no time in oe
28 assembling his party, and, launching into the lake, solaces himself
29 until the last farthing is spent.”” This fondness for festive plea-
30 sures is especially displayed at the ‘Feast of Roses,” which flowers
31 are produced in Kashmir of unrivalled beauty and fragrance.
32 ** The season when the rose first opens into blossom is celebrated
33 with much festivity by the Kashmirians, who resort in crowds to
34 the adjacent gardens, and enter into scenes of gaiety and plea-
35 sare rarely known among other Asiatic nations.”4 As oppression Forster, ii. 18.
36 and consequent misery have ‘frozen the genial current of the
37 soul,” in the Kashmirians, that romantic festival has degene-
38 rated into the feast of Singaras or water-nuts, celebrated on the
39 first of May by ascending to the summit of the Tukhti Suliman
40 and feasting there, ‘‘ eating more particularly of singaras.’”* * Vigne, li. 93.
41 Sirmagur was formerly much celebrated for its manufacture of
42 Rr 2