The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-04-15

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington D. CO
r AMAIU, where the new maharaja
of Kashmir was crowned re-
Gently with great pomp and
splendor, gains an honor that
should have gone to Srinagar the real
capital of Kashmir. 1t was necessary
for the coronation to take place in
winter, however, and at that season
1t is Internationally cold in the great
Vale of Kashmir, 5000 feet above
sea level Jammu nearer the warm
plains of India, where the maharaja
sojourns during the winter season,
therefore was chosen for the cere-
monies.
The official title of the ruler is
"Maharaja of Kashmir and Jammu. y
Here, too, Jammu province gains what
seems an unearned increment of fame,
for it is, after all, only small division
of Kashmir state, smaller than many
of its fellow provinces. Much of it is
barren, and the rest of its area but
slightly productive. It's unique char
acteristic among the other divisions
of Kashmir is that its southern fringe
lies in the plains while the remainder
| of the state Is almost entirely a mass
Of mountains-a great knot in the
Himalaya ranges. Altogether the
state Of Kashmir spreads over an
area equal to that of Minnesota. With
the upper part of the Northwest
Frontier province, it makes up the
great projection between Tibet and
Afghanistan that forms the northern
most territory Of India.
Jammu town boasts railroad,
possession which sets it apart among
Kashmir communities for nowhere
else in Kashmir's $4,000 square miles
are rails to be found Jammu's rail
way extends for less than twenty
miles through Kashmir territory, from
the town to the nearby border. 1t
connects with a main line of the In
dian railway system at Wazirabad,
thirty miles outside Kashmir, and
some fifty miles north Of Lahore.
Imposing From Distance.
Jammu is a very striking town when
viewed from a distance Above its
many One-storied, fiat-roofed stone
houses tower shining white Hindu
temples topped by golden pinnacles.
But when one has arrived In the town
his opinions change. The little houses
are built of stones plastered together
with mud The white temples are
merely whitewashed and their spires
gilded. Practically all of the buildings
are in reality commonplace, though in
the upper part of town are more sub
stantial dwellings of brick.
Across the Tawi river, on which
Jammu is situated, is fine modern
suspension bridge. The railway ends
on the southern side of the stream,
while the town lies on the north bank.
The only fairly broad and good street
In Jammu is the cart road which
crosses the bridge and extends on to
the higher ground on which are the
palaces and state buildings. The other
streets are narrow and irregular.
The palaces are, of course. well
built, as BELTS one of the wealthiest
Of the Indian rulers. They include
the winter residence of the maharaja
and the homes of several Of his rela-
tives. Nearby are the residences of
the governor of Jammu and other
officials of the province, as well as
the buildings in which the business Of
the province in the winter, the
affairs of the state-are transacted.
JaInmu has seen better days. A
century ago it had considerable in
dustrial activity, and at that time 1t
was the U.ain gateway to the Vale
OF Keshmir, 100 miles to the north
across the mountains. During this
period the population was about 49,.
600 1t is now only about 10000 The
place has had pretty much the ex-
perience that certain towns had in
the American West In railroad build
ing days when the new highways left
them high and dry. The cart road from
the Indian plains into the Valei of
Kashmir was built from the neighbor-
hood of RawaIpindi a hundred miles
northwest of Jammu. This road was
built, largely by the British military
authorities, up the valley and gorge
of the Jhelum river, the stream which
winds so picturesqueIy and pIacidly
through the vale. and then pursues
its way crookedly and turbulently
through the outer mountain barrier.
Through HiIIy Country.
The elevation Of Jammu is only
1000 feet. The old road slopes gem
tly upward through a poor country Of
low, stony hills covered somewhat
sparsely with acacias, to Dansal at
the 1880 foot level. Here steep hills
are encountered. Gray sandstone is
much in evidence. and the vegetation
I is scarce. Through these hills the road
winds to the first of the passes, the
Laru Lori. at 5000 feet.
From this height the road drops to
$500 feet at Ramban on the Chenab