Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

large bastion, built of burat bricks, and most probably was a Hindoo worshipping place before Cashmere was conquered by the Moossulmans.

Music and singing are the universal amusements of the middling classes; they play also with cards, which are round, and have eight different suits in them; they are also fond of gambling with Guinea-fowl eggs, which they strike and attempt to break with knuckle-bones. Chess is also a favourite game with the higher classes.

Cashmere produces all the animals and birds common to Hindoostan. Snakes are common, but not venomous; they make small floating islands on the lakes, on which they cultivate vegetables, melons, and grain; some of these are 150 feet long, and are made of spars of fir lashed together, like a raft, on which they first put a layer of flags and rushes, then a fine rich soil of manure, about sixteen inches thick. There are three large lakes; the largest one is called Lollaub, the next Oollur, the third is the Shahlimaar one, which is the smallest. There are plenty of fish, but they had not a good flavour. A number of fishermen and their boats were daily employed to supply the city.

From Cashmere, a short time previous to his first departure, Mr. Moorcroft sent off two bundles of shawls, some papers containing an account of his progress thus far, specimens of seeds he had collected here of rhubarb, and various other things, to the care of Mr. Wm. Fraser, at Delhi. These things went under charge of Meer Ally Bux Khan, a relative of Meer Izut Oollah Hajee Zakur Bokharee; the latter said he intended to go down to Calcutta (and took this opportunity of evading paying duties to Rajah Runjeet Sing, as he was taking down shawls of his own on speculation). Mr. Moorcroft and Mr. Trebeck gave him letters of introduction to several of their friends in that metropolis.

All these things reached Delhi, without any interruption on the part of Rajah Runjeet Sing or his chiefs, in safety; but were delayed there a long time, first by Sir David Ochterlony, and then afterwards by Mr. Elliot; and it was not until Mr. Moorcroft made another application to Mr. Fraser, that they were forwarded as directed. During this delay, most of the seeds were spoiled. The shawls and other things were opened and appraised, to settle the price of the duties; and it was then said, that their equals had never before come to Delhi.

A little time after their arrival, the sect of Seeks called Akhallees, getting jealous of the influence of the Europeans in Cashmere, assembled to murder them, and a serious affray took place, in which there was some bloodshed; they sent word to Motee Ram of the hostile array of these fanatics, who told Mr. Moorcroft not to hesitate in firing at them if they would not peaceably retire to their houses.

Mr. Moorcroft, after staying nine months at Cashmere, wished to proceed onwards, for which purpose he went to Geengul; he had all his property and men put on board boats, and sent his horses by land. They embarked, and the first day he only went as far as Chutta-bhol, the north-west suburbs of the city, about four miles. They went down the Islamabad river, the next day, about four coss further, when they quitted the river, and entered the Lollaub lake, and proceeded night and day, with their paddles, to Puttun, a small village on a mountain famous for beautiful flowers; they halted here a few hours for refreshment, and Mr. Moorcroft went with four men to examine this place. From Puttun they proceeded on the lake to Sheroopoor, ten coɛs; here they halted one day, and from whence they again entered the Islamabad

river, and proceeded on it to Barramooleh, six coss. At this place there are two small forts, one on each side of the river, and a garrison. The village is small. This is looked upon as one of the keys of Cashmere; the Seeks had about 200 armed men bere; there is also a wooden spar bridge over the river; but one of the piers is demolished, and it is impassable. Here Mr. Moorcroft was obliged to halt three days, to procure porters, there being a succession of rapids. He marched by land to Peernee, on the right bank of the Islamabad river, eight coss. This is but a small village, and there is the tomb of some fakeer. From hence he marched to Geengul, ten coss, along the bank of the river. This is also a village, at some distance above; but there are a few bunyah shops at the place below, where travellers put up. The road thus far from Cashmere was on each side of the river well cultivated; fine rice-crops, and the edges of the lake full of singharahs (or water-nuts). The forests on the mountains are firs, and the large trees below are horsechestnuts and walnuts. At Geengul, they only staid the night, as the rajahs of Khuckai and Bhumbai (most probably incited by Motee Ram Deewan, who did not wish the party to proceed by this route), demanded Rs. 60,000 as customs, ere they would permit them to advance. Mr. Moorcroft made a shew of a disposition to pass by force; but the next morning, seeing the rajah's people assembling in arms, he thought it prudent to retreat to a place called Tulla Moolah. There is no village here, but a good encamping ground. He halted three days, when Mr. Trebeck, who had gone on in front, met Soorut Sing, who was coming from Cashmere, sent by Motee Ram Dewan, to bring back Mr. Moorcroft and his party. They met at Barra Moolah; Mr. Trebeck returned with him to Tulla Moolah, and after a short consultation, Mr. Moorcroft, with Soorut Sing, and a guard of fifty Seeks, and all his baggage, returned to Barra Moolah. There they hired boats, and returned in twentyfour hours by the same route as they came, and again put up in Delawur Khan's garden. Here they were obliged to halt two months, and found out that Motee Ram objected to their going out by the Barra Moolah pass, as the rajah of Moozufferabad had killed his vizier, and was at enmity with the Seeks, whose authority he did not acknowledge; and he was afraid the rajah might have been incited to take Cashmere by Mr. Moorcroft; at all events, this was the construction put on his return to Cashmere. The Barra Moolah road and pass was the direct route to Peishawur; but the rajahs had not submitted to Runjeet Sing's authority, and were represented as a hardy and warlike race of mountaineers, and the road is represented as the best, and used to be the common thoroughfare when Cashmere was under the Patan government. By Soorut Sing's staying behind, there is no doubt that they incited the Khuckai Bhumbai rajah to demand duties laid down by Motee Ram Dewan, who, it appears, had not been consulted previous to Mr. Moorcroft's sudden depar

ture.

At last, they left Cashmere, after a second sojourn of two months, and proceeded to Sheirgurh, all their baggage being transported in boats. This is the boundary of the city of Cashmere south-west. Here they hired carriers and pack-horses; next day they marched to Khanpoor ké Surraee, a fine open plain and cultivation, eight coss. On the 24th, to Shahjee Murrug ké Surraee, eight coss; on the 25th, he went to Shoopeen, eight coss; halted the 26th, and the 27th, marched to Doobjun, ten coss, a halting-place without a village or inhabitants. On the 28th, Aileeabad ké Surraee, ten coss. Seek detachment of thirty men, for the protection of travellers. are all built of burnt brick and mortar, with good gates, which Asiat.Journ.N.S. VOL. 18. No.72.

Here was a The surraees are locked at

2 P

night. Four coss beyond Aileeabad ké Surraee, the road gradually ascends to the pass called Peerpunjal, at the summit of which is the tomb of some peer (sanctified person), and two small towers, built of stone, with a wall on each side of the road. The ascent from the Cashmere side is open and plain; but the descent towards Poosheeana is very precipitous and dangerous; only one horseman at a time can go down dismounted, and it is about three coss from the top of the pass down to the village, and from Poosheeana to the plain below is about a coss and a-half, but the descent is less difficult; from Doobjun the road ascended gradually. On the left of it, was a hollow and some forest, and to the right was an ascent. It was by this pass Rajah Runjeet's troops invaded and took Cashmere; some treachery was used, and Rs. 50,000 given as a bribe to the guardians of the summit of the pass, or else they could have kept off an army. On the 29th, they halted below the pass at the village of Poosheeana, an inhabited village; good cultivation and fine forests of large timber trees; the houses are all built of wood. Here the party halted, on account of Meer Izut Oollah's son, Meer Azim Toollah Khan, having fallen desperately in love, whilst at Cashmere, with a boatman's daughter, a very pretty young girl. Meer Izut Oollah, having sent for the jemadar or daroga of the boatmen, settled with him that the girl should be given in marriage, or dolah, to his son, giving the father Rs. 200 as a dower; the young lady was sent with a confidential servant, in a covered jumpan, to Lahore, where, on his return from Kabool, Meer Azeem Toollah was married to her, and took her to Delhi.

On the first October 1823, they marched to Byramgullah, twelve coss. The road was down the sides of a small stream, called the Peerpunjal Nuddee, which was crossed and re-crossed several times, knee-deep, and a plain good road. This is but a small village; on each side of the road is a low stunted forest; a little beyond Byramgullah was a small fort, built of stones, to the right of the road. On the 2d, they proceeded to Ruttun Punjaub, five coss; the road was easy and good, and through stunted forest. This pass has also a grave on it. At this place, the Rujore rajah's son (Agar Khan's grandson) came to meet Mr. Moorcroft, with about fifty followers, and they proceeded on to Thunna, an inhabited village, five coss beyond the pass of Ruttun Punjaub; two coss of the road was descending, and the remainder a plain; total this day's distance, ten coss. On the third they encamped at Rujore, eight coss; fine cultivation of rice-crops, and good road. The rajah came out to meet Mr. Moorcroft, and took him to his own house, and gave him an entertainment. Here they were obliged to halt, on account of Mr. Trebeck's falling sick; he got an attack of bilious fever, and they were obliged to prepare a jumpan for him to ride in, as he was too weak to ride on horseback. On the 8th, they marched to Dhunnooa, six coss; fine plain road, and good cultivation; rice, jooar, &c. all nearly ripe. Dhunnooa is a small village, of a few mud huts. A little beyond the village is the boundary of the Rujore rajah, who is a Mussulman; his father, Agar Khan, is in confinement at Lahore. On the 9th, they halted at Nosheira, twelve coss, where there is a broken surraee, and a few bunyahs in a bazar. On the 10th, they halted below a pass, called Sanee ké Baolee (a baolee is a well, with steps down to the surface of the water); here it was merely a reservoir and spring, with some stone steps down to the water, which was sweet and soft. At eight coss there was no village near, nor any bazar. On the 12th, about eight A.M., after eating breakfast, Mr. Moorcroft and party proceeded up an ascent, to the top of the Bhimbur pass, about two coss from the reservoir; from thence the road descends gradually to a

plain for three coss, where they halted at Bhimbur; the road descending was through a thick and high grass jungle.

Bhimbur is a respectable village, built of mud walls, and a few bunyahs' shops. Here a chobedar, or silver-stick usher, made his appearance, sent from Rajah Runjeet Sing, who brought a letter from him to Mr. Moorcroft, and had been waiting here one month. This man's name was Peer Bux. He likewise brought an order from the rajah to Soorut Sing (who had accompanied Mr. Moorcroft from Cashmere, and had 100 armed Seeks with him), to repair immediately to the rajah, who was encamped at a place called Kalai Baug, with his army. Mr. Moorcroft wrote a letter of thanks in reply, and sent it by the chobedar, to whom he also made a present of Rs. 50, and Soorut Sing went off with only four men to the rajah's camp. Mr. Moorcroft halted here two days. On the 15th October, he marched to Daoree, six coss. There is a small mud fort to the left, about half a coss from the encampment. On the 16th, he arrived at Jhelim; he had to cross the Jhelim river in fine large boats; it was about 300 yards broad, and about thirteen feet deep; sandy banks; no stones. Jhelim is a large town, built of burnt bricks, with a fine bazar, and has a garrison. Mr. Moorcroft went through the town, and encamped beyond, near a fakeer's tukeeah and some trees (sissoo, bhail, and peepul), and not far from the bank of the river. Here they were obliged to halt one month, waiting the return of Soorut Sing, as he could not proceed without him. They amused themselves with shooting and fishing; wild fowl, snipe, and quail in great abundance. The fish they caught out of the Jhelim was of a superior flavour; rohs and other kinds like those in India.

Soorut Sing returned on the 13th November, and on the 15th the party proceeded forwards to Rotas, a large fort built of stone and lime by Sheir Shah: it is upon a height. There is a small river below, and a good bazar inside; the party crossed the small river, about a span deep of water, and put up at a surraee, half a coss beyond the fort. There were a number of gardens, and only one bunyah's shop. This place is eight coss from Jhelim. On the 16th, they marched to Bukralah, twelve coss; the first two coss was a plain, and the remaining ten was up and down. Small hills of earth, covered with a prickly jungle (or forest) of heensee, korundah, and mucko. Bukralah consists of a few mud huts, on a hillock to the left of the road. On the 17th they proceeded along the bed of a dry river, sandy and stony, for three coss. The people of Bukralah are notorious thieves, and had gone up to reconnoitre the party behind some large stones. Soorut Sing made his men fire some matchlock shots at them; but they were out of range of the shot. Seven coss beyond, they encamped at Bishundore; total ten coss. The road, after leaving the bed of the river, ascends a little to a fine plain.

Bishundore is a good-sized village of mud huts, and has many bunyahs' shops. At this place, was one of Rajah Runjeet Sing's orderlies, who gave orders for supplies, and every thing to be furnished the party. On the 18th, they marched to Saleh ké Surraee, in ruins, built of brick. Here was only one bunyah's shop; twelve coss. About two coss behind, was a place called Tope-ay Munkeealah. This was a curiously-built place, like a bastion, about twenty feet high, and about fifty feet in diameter outside, covered with a cupola like a bomb-proof roof; the bricks are very large, and have been illbaked, and it is not known by whom or for what purpose it was erected.* The Hon. Mr. Elphinstone mentions it in his tour to Kabool. On the 19th, the party halted at Rawul Pindee, ten coss, a fine plain road; here is a fine bazar, This tope has been opened and examined by M. Ventura and others.

built of burnt bricks, and a vast number of merchants and bankers. Hurree Sing Nullooah is viceroy of this place, on the part of Rajah Runjeet Sing; he has a force of 300 or 400 horse and foot, and resides in a small fort inside the city. This place is very wealthy, and carries on a great trade in all directions. Mr. Moorcroft halted here on the 20th, to arrange money-matters in front, takin bills and exchanging his Cashmere hoondies. On the 21st, he marched to Janee ké Sung, eight coss; this is a small village, with a small mud fort, and a few bunyahs' shops. This day's journey, the first part, for five coss, was over a fine plain, and the latter three coss full of ravines and broken ground, covered with the wild karundah bush, in flower. On the 22d they proceeded to a pass called Margullee, cut out and paved by the Emperor Akbar; road was four coss through jungle and ravines. The paved part at the top of the pass was about twenty feet broad and 150 yards long. They encamped this day at Kalai ké Surraee, six coss beyond the pass; total ten coss. They crossed a small bridge, of a single arch, over a small, deep water-course. On the 23d, they marched to Hussan Abdul, twelve coss. Two coss before they reached this place, they passed the ruins of a garden, built by the Emperor Akbar, called Shalimaär. At Hussan Abdul is a surraee, and ten or fifteen bunyahs' shops. The surraee has a brick wall all round, and a gateway. On the 24th, they reached Hydero, twelve coss. The country now is called Chuch Hazareh, inhabited by Patans. Hydero is built of mud, has a good bazar, and several merchants; this is the place that the Hajee Syud Ahmud plundered, and put all the inhabitants to the sword; upwards of 500 men were slaughtered in cold blood by his fanatic followers. On the 25th, Mr. Moorcroft and party reached the city and fort of Attock, and put up in a surraee outside of the city, on the east side of the place.

A FAREWELL TO THE LUTE.

The tears are starting to my eyes,
Thus from thee, dear friend, to part:

No pilgrim with a sadder heart

Ere wandered from the sunny skies
That shine upon the cottage door,

Where he, perchance, shall stand no more!

Fare thee well, beloved lute;
Thy tongue of melody is mute;
In vain my finger creeps along,
To cull the gentle flower of song;

The beauty of thy early strain
Will never, never, wake again!
Grief hath shaken that green Tree
Of Hope, on which I hanged thee;
No more the summer breezes come;
The chord of happiness is dumb.

And yet the pleasant Spring may call
Thy sweet soul from the silent grave,

And bid thee pour through bower and hall
From thy clear lips the silver wave
Of Music, on whose placid breast
The weary, broken heart may rest.

The bird, that charms the forest green,
Sings not all the summer day:
Hiding from the burning noon
In the darkling leaves of June,
Its twinkling feet are all unseen;
But sunset wakes its cheering lay-
Thou, too, may'st wake another day.

« ZurückWeiter »