The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-06

large stone walls covered with the
most beautiful climbing roses. And
scattered around in the soft green
grass were the sweetest old fashioned
daisies. Some of the gardens also
have fountains so arranged that the
effect is very beautiful when the wat
er is turned on; also, one of the gard
nes had large natural spring with
strong, swift current of water flowing
all the time; also a trout hatchery
where we saw millions of trout of
different sizes. The keepers fed them
and they came to the surface of the
water and tumbled over each other
in greedy heaps to snatch the food.
From Srinagar there are good mo-
tor roads leading out in various di-
rections to other lovely places of in
terest from perhaps fifty to one hun
dred miles away. We took two of
these trips, one to Phalgam and one
to Gulmarg, and we saw the most
beautiful mountain scenes and climb
ed the mountain sides. At Gulmarg,
we took ponies and rode up to the
snowline. Laurence climbed still
higher and brought back some deli
cately colored lavender rhondeden-
drons.
Leaving Kashmir, we were forced
to return via Jammu instead of Ra-
walpindi because of a motor lorry
strike on the Pindi side. The jour-
ney from Srinagar to Jammu is dis
tance of 203 miles and mountain road
nearly all the way. We had to cross
the Bonnehal pass which is about
nine thousand feet at the highest
point. Narrow roads, two way traf-
fic, sharp corners and careless Indian
drivers and an entire day of such
travel was just about enough, it SEEM
ed to be, to provide thrills a plenty
for the most enthusiastic thrill hunt
ers. 1t was enough to make me say
that one in a life time is sufficient,
though | cannot regret having seen
beautiful Kashmir.
/ must not forget to mention one
more thing which is one of the main
attractions of Kashmir, and that is
delicious Strawberries and cherries in
abundance, so that one can eat ones
fill. We certainly did enjoy them.
The cherries are mostly sweet cher
ries of both the light and dark var
ieties, and very large. Besides the
fruit our food was mostly vegetables
and mutton. Mutton is really the only
kind of meat available. Beef in any
form is strictly prohibited. Travel
ers are questioned at customs on the
way up whether they have any beef
or firearms. A funny incident is told
about a certain traveller who had
with him a bottle of English candy.
The candy is in the shape of balls
almost like an eye, and is black and
they are called "buIl's eyes,. SO
when he was asked whether he had
any beef with him he said, 81 have
some bulls eyesv Which almost ex-
cited the customs officers.
The vegetables are locally grown
and one sees many floating gardens
l seems difficult to tell just how these
gardens are made, but | shall try
The lake bottom is covered with veg.
citation. The gardener goes out with
his boat and pulls up these plants and
weeds, and with it takes some of the
soil which clings to the roots. Their
he has a way of tying these togeth
er into a garden plot which he is
able to tow along and place it where
he wants it, and anchors it. On this
he puts soil and silt, and it forms his
| garden. Sometimes a floating gard
EN- may be stolen and moved away tC
some other place during the night. Il
appears to be very hard work, but the
gardener seems to be we'll paid fol
the soil is very productive and the
vegetables thrive WELL We often saw
large boat loads of kohlrab anC
onions taken off to market. These
two kinds seemed to be the most plen
tiful at the season when we wer,
there, although there were othel
kinds as well.
Though the above is by no means
would be much more to be told, ye
this may give you some little idea 81
you will know what to expect whei
you plan. to visit there.