The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-10-23

Northward beyond the passes OF
Cashmere lies the land of Thibet.
Cashmere might be called the buffer
state between India and that long
closed country Of superstition whose
100000 inhabitants are still under
the sway of grand lamas.
Since the opening up OF Thibet by
the expedition sent by the British gov
ernment under the command of Col.
Younghusband some light of modern
civilization has penetrated through
these closed doors, but. unhappily,
owing to the influence of the Anglo
Russian agreement, the gates have
clashed to again. However, very few
travellers enter Cashmere from the
toilsome northern passes OF Lesser
Thlbet They are difficult even for the
mountain mule to scale. so steep and
sudden are the numerous sharp turns
and angles, utterly devoid of vegeta-
ton except coarse lichen; In winter
imbedded In ice and snow. and at all
seasons OF the year windswept and
bleak. The fertile valleys, the hills
and streams of Cashmere, lying behind
hAAio hboIIlNdVlCs lOChg uAlllt Alt Il
paradise in comparison.
After journeylng across the scorch
Ing plains of India in the close, hot
carriages of the Punjab railway to
Rawalpindi, the terminus, know of no
more refreshing experience than to
exchange there this mode of travel for
the tonga, or native coach, a cross be-
h.,II ia
fashioned carry-all. As we were con-
veyed in this tonga, its two shaggy
ponies yoked to the long pole, what
thrills pervaded us as we rushed hel.
ter 'sketer through the narrow defiles
and sharp turns of these mountain
valleys and uplands toward the Hima-
iayas! For romantic, varied and
grand scenery, unique customs. a
ragged and picturesque population
Cashmere stands alone.
Arriving at Srinagar ard fastening
10 the river, suitable houseboats were
selected from among the numerous
craft tied to the trees on the banks of
the Jehlum. Within "a hours the
equipment of rowers. paddlers, cook
and dunga. or kitchen boat was ready
for active service, and our memorable
journey through the Vale of Cashmere
began.
Passing under the antiquated
bridges spanning the Jehlum, many
strange sights were revealed, such as
bizarre and fantastic palaces, includ-
ing that of the maharajah of Jumnu
and (faahnnnrn xyffh tfu 10
moat AM 1ungeonlike. walled.in In
closure Of t4c zenana. North of the
town is the towering hill. OF Thaktl
Suliman, with it's conicat peak
crowned with a tiny mosque. The
bones of the holy man SULLIVAN
rest within this shrine and the
faithful Mussulmans dwelling in
the valley make pilgrimages thither.
usually at the time of the full moon.
sharp bend of the river led us to
winding nullah, or narrow tributary.
panorama Of lovely views and green
vistas surprised us, and as twilight
approached we tied up for the night.
An early start next morning, ere
the rays of the sun grey too hot. with
~ oAih pun bAOubul uo W
Martand This now almost deserted
town, save for few poverty-stricken
villagers, was once a populous city.
The sole remnants of its former great
ness are the ruins of an ancient tenn
pie originally dedicated TO the sun.
Heaps OF broken and twisted pillars,
scorched by earthquake and stained
by time, masses of stone torn from
their foundation, lie about The mas
siye portico Is still standing; also the
remains of a cloister OF delicately.
carved columns. The worship must
have been Buddhistic, as the carvings
plainly reveal the benign features OF
Buddha and the sacred bull. From the
eminence crowned by these ruins one
gets a splendid view OF the Liddar val
ley. at that time (ApriD. covered for
miles with purple and white iris. To
the north were the snow capped
ranges OF the Hlmalayas, rising to a
height OF $4,000 feet.
Returning to the river, We we're
towed through a rich grazing country
20 the headwaters of the Sind. At
this point We struck a most pic
turesque and charming stretch Of
country. the Sind valley, leading to
the foothills Of the Himalayas, where
the brown and the black bear are fire.
quently seen as they come down from
the mountains to drink. Within
days march the big antlered stag, an
occasional leopard and numerous
small game are found. Many hunting