The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-20
HE CITY OF HE SUN.
Destroyed by the Great Earthquake In
Cashmere.


Destroyed by the Great Earthquake in
Cashmere.
Serinagar, or literally Surgia Magyar.
the City of the Sun. is the capital of the
beautiful and romantic valley OF Cash
mere, one of the most charming spots
in the whole earth. 1t is some seven
years ago that in my wanderings
visited this happy valley. A lonely
march of about 100 mixes along the
banks Of the Jhelum River, the ancient
Hydaspes, brought me to the smooth
waters of the Cashmere Lake. Here L
hired boat covered with mating, and
so arranged that the stern of the boat
/ formed cooking kitchen, both for the
crew and passenger. My crew con-
sisted of full-grewn man, an under
/ grown boy. an Old woman. two small
children and a yOung mother and
plump baby. The whole party, except
/ the plump baby, took their turn at the
oars and towing rope. and managed
: to get along at the rate of rwo M 'eS an
. hour.
1t wa, clear morning. and beautiful
beyond description was the panoramic
view as we wound along the river IN It's
circular course. All around the country
was rich with verdure. Rising at dis
lance were the snowy ranges OF the
Himalaya Mountains, many OF theIn as
much as 1900 feet above the sea level.
To quote the words Of the traveller,
Vigne: ''SOftness mantling over the
sublime, snugneSs generally elsewhere
incompatible with extent, are the pre-
vailing characteristics of the scenery Of
Cashmere" In the center of this love"
lv scenery is the City of the sun, which
was recently destroyed by an earth
quake.
Serinagar is considerable city Of
some 10000 inhab tants, of whom TO-
600 are Hindus and the remainder Mo-
hammedans. The houses are built
entirely of wood, and are usually three
stories high The streets are narrow
and dirty The people were dirtier
than the streets. No pen could possibly
depict the real sanitary condition OF
Serinagar, and consequently one regrets
that as the city had to perish. it did not
succumb to the purifying element of fire
rather than the upheavings of an earth
quake,
The city 'of Serinagar is on an island
in the midst of the Cashmere Lake. 1t
has seven bridges, all made of wooden
logs. Some of the bridges are occupied
with shops, like old London bridge,
which are extremely quaint, although
] unsightly structures. There are no cabs
or carts or carriages in the city of Seri-
nd fbnrafnrn
rumble along its narrow, dirty streets.
1t is wise dispensation OF Providence
that wheeled conveyances have not been
, introduced in the capital OF Cashmere,
for the people would be too lazy to gel
out of the way. The Cashmeree never
ws.lks or works if he can help it. In re-
5 cent famines they preferred dying to
either. And yet they are skilled work,
, men. The manufactures of Cashmere
are well known. Cashmere shawlS have
worldwide reputation, although the
trade is not as prosperous as it used to be-
: A Cashmere shawl has been sold III
. Paris and London for "a, 600, and ever
more The silver and geld work in
bracelets and necklaces is perhaps I'M
equaled in the world, for it has pc
= culiar unfinished stvle of IFS own which
2 can not be initiated. The copper work
? is very antique in its appearance. The
2 painted and inlaid woodwork, errone
ously called by Europeans papermache,
is exceedingly beautiful. 1t is an inter
esting fact that the well-known Cash
mere shawl patterns, which finds eX
preston in all articles of Cashmere
, manufacture. has its origin in the pc
q culiar winnings of the river Jhelum
, along the valley.
. The women of Cashmere are re
t nowned for their beauty. They are eX
ceedingly fair for Orientals. In former
n wears they were seized and sold as slave;
4 for the seraglios of Eastern monarchs
q And even in modern days the Cashmere
$ beauty has found a place in the aztec
1 tons of lndia's European rulers anC
q warriors Physically the men are {
very fine race, and the calves of the
Cashmere eoolie would give effect t
: the very best arrangement in knicker
. bockers The chronological develop
ment of both sexes is good. But still
the Cashmere is a hopeless individual
At first when you look at him you be
n lieve in him. His fine development o
head chest and calf. win your respect
But from the day that one of their mum
Der ate five of nv loaveS of bread. anC
+ another purloined bottle of preserved
a currantS, and another appropriated ;
leathern strap, L lost confidence in The
f race. After very careful inquiry came
to the conclusion that the Cashmer
Y comes very low down in the scale o
humanity He won't work if he cal
d.. help it, and to beg he is never ashamed
t Such is the race that inhabits one of tn
fairest and most productive province
on earth-COr. n. Y. San.