Evening star., 1903-09-22
FROM HOUSE TO TENT
A Flood in Kashmir Valley
and Its Dangers.
MAKING HILL TOP HOME
THE DANGERS FROM FAMINE AND
BAD WATER.
Picking UP Drift Wood for Cooking
Native Noncha-
lance
M TAKING HILL TOP HOME
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
IS there had been chance for over
week of a flood we had each night had all
our belongings transferred to the second
story. but at last the water having gone
down five feet in the river we felt that
all danger was over and that could
sleep without fear of our house suddenly
Crumbing under us. On the 22d we were
dll busy writing letters in our pretty draw
ing room, when one of our very good
friends appeared at the door and announced
solemnly that must leave the house
without fail before night. as the river had
risen five feet at Islamabad, which meant
a flood in Srinnuggur, and it was prophe-
sled the worst flood that kastmir had ever
known. inasmuch the river was already
so very high We were greatly astonished
and could hardly believe the news. and we
all declared we would greatly prefer to
remain In our cosy house and did not at
all fear that it would fail. the lower
story was of stone. Our friend, however
would not hear to our remaining. and de
clared 1t to be a question OF life and
death, insisted our at once getting q
dunga with shkara and moving into it.
so. as soon as he had left, We wrote to
Capt. Chatar Singh, the very obhgins
kashmir gentleman to whom all visitors
aid and in reply We're informed that he
had servants out in all directions looking
for dungaS but that none were 10 be hatt'
that he had had lot of tents put up on
the hillside beyond the cottage hospital
and that we could have one or two of
those if we wished, that as our house was
directly on the bund and very badly bullt,
we would do we'll to leave at once, as the
river was rising rapidly and he inclosed
an order for two tents. We Immediately
stopped our packing and sailed forth IN
the pouring rain, chose our tents. one very
large one and one smaller, with TWO ser
wants tents, and on the way back secured
one of the few 'lande.tux" of the place,
huge, nigh hung things and then tell TO
work.
The bheestie was sent to the library gar
dens for two hampers of vegetables; the
sweeper banished to Nusserwanjis for two
dozen bottles Of soda water, the bearer
cook sent to gather up his pots ana
pans and pack up the provisions ana dlsh-
es and fell to and packed our trunks
folded curtains and draperles. emptled cup
boards of their contents and impressed into
our service the munshl. obliging little man,
who helped the bheeestie and bearer to
store everything in the lower half and later
to pack it on the landau.
Such a sight as that landau was with
cane chairs and tables. rope beds, mattress
es rolls OF bedding. carpets baskets OF
soda water and every other imaginable
thing. even large bricks and a grating with
which to construct fireplace for cooking,
DuISlilS anu managing Jul an oNci H. W q
had three huge loads. and 1t was not until
O'Clock that we turned the key of the front
door and betook ourselves 70 our tents. The
last thing we did was to pick all the roses
and some huge punches of daisies, with
which to flll up our earthen bowls and make
the tent cheerful
At Home Again.
T;y 8 o'clock we We're in very good order,
The wet ground of our sitting room and bed
rooms covered with huge dhurries. the ma
tive carpets OF blue and white striped
stuff and over them some pretty numb
dahs embroidered felt rugs; our draperies
hung about the large dinner table and
writing table combined was covered with
q very pretty embroidered cloth. and three
bowls OF flowers books galore, our native
inkstands and all our other treasures scat
tered about over 1t. and we We're as cosy
as possible. The big tent contains good
sized sitting room, at the doors Of which
we hung chicks, portieres made of split
bamboo: huge bed room with very high
ceiling and a large sized bath room The
smaller tent has only sleeping room and
bath room. AS we are encamped on the
hillside our beds. tables and chairs are at
q rather unpleasant angle. but on the whole
we very comfortably settled. indeed,
and very cosy.
We slept the heavy sleep of the overtired
that night, and were walked early In the
morning by the church bells tolling dis
mally to announce that the river had over
flowed the bund and the flood was upon us
indeed. We breakfasted hastily and climb
ed up the hill back of our tents to see the
extent of the food, and were astonished at
the sight. The river had completely wash
ed through the bund in three different
places and was pouring through with a
terrific rush: had flooded the whole valley
and was up TO the foot OF our hill. Many Of
the houses on the bund had fallen or were
falling. among them our nice little bunga-
low, which lay a heap of ruins. the lovely
o. 1-fan eight feet updar
Every house In tho valley, including the
hotel. flooded up to the second floor
and those which had only one story showed
only their chimneys. We could not tell
where the river and canal banks had been,
except here and there where there We're
rows of poplars to outline them, for the
bridges Were under and the water rushing
In torrents over the Dal Darwaza or gate
The map OF the valley was completely
changed. and he felt dazed. In looking
over our hastily packed provisions and be-
longings later or we found that we had
charcoal enough for only one day, and
bread. butter and porridge enough for ONLY
two, and as we had shikara in which to
paddle down over the newly made lake to
get provisions AMI fuel we began to feel as
II we were mariners wrecked upon a desert
island. We sent at once TO engage q shi-
kara. either by the hour or by the week
but none was to be had. Things began 10
look serious for how could we cook with
out either firewood or charcoal?
We then went out ourselves to search for
some KIND or boat, and fortunately met a
very obliging friend who offered his sm-
kara, but at the same time told US that the
government workshops were down. so no
charcoal could be had. and that it was i'm
possible to buy firewood for any amount OF
money. He himself was very much con-
cerned as to how to get anything for cook
ing purposes but thought that IL we would
get into the boat he would come with us
and possibly we could pick up drift wood
enough for our needs. So taking our bhees-
tie with us We floated off into the lake AS
his servant had to have rice we went first
TO grain shop which was under water AS
high as the second floor. and climbing In
the windows, were told by the prophet )r
that he had nothing. huzoor. all was LOST
The huzoor, feeling IN his knowing bones
that the crafty native was saving up his
wares in order to demand. later on very
large prices. paid no attention to his re-
marks. but hunted about until he found a
concealed room filled up to the ceiling with
rice. flour, dal and potatoes, so he had his
sacks filled. and giving the proper price and
some words OF advice gratis, he climbed out
OF the corridors into the shikara and we
started once more. On all sides we could
streets OF the bazaar. where in the houses
and at each crash the air resounded with
the howls and shrieks OF the natives 1t
was a melancholy sight and sound. though
4 tla oI,r alru "a f.-