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annexed to the house of Timur for the space of one hundred and sixty years; after which it was betrayed by the Mogul governor, to Ahmed Shah Duranny, who formed it into a province of the Afghan empire. "The valley of Kashmire has generally a flat surface, and being copiously watered, yields abundant crops of rice, which is the common food of the, inhabitants. At the base of the surrounding hills, where the land is higher, wheat, barley, and various other grains are culti vated. A superior species of saffron is also produced in this province, and iron of an excellent quality is found in the adjacent mountains. But the wealth and fame of Kashmire have largely arisen from the manufacture of shauls, which it holds unrivalled, and almost with out participation. The wool of the shaul is not produced in the country, but brought from districts of Thibet, lying at the distance of a month's journey to the north-east. It is originally of a dark grey colour, and is bleached in Kashmire by the help of a certain preparation of rice flour. The yarn of this wool is stained with such colours as may be judged the best suited for sale, and after being woven the piece is once washed. The border, which usually displays a variety of figures and colours, is attached to the shauls, after fabrication; but in so nice a manner that the junction is not discernible. The texture of the shaul resembles that of the shaloon of Europe, to which it has probably communicated the Dame. The price, at the loom, of an ordinary shaul, is eight rupees, thence, in proportional quality, it produces from fifteen to twenty; and I have seen a very fine piece sold at forty rupees the first cost. But the value of this commodity may be largely enhanced by the in

troduction of flowered work; and when you are informed that the sum of one hundred rupees is occasionally given for a shaul to the weaver, the half amount may be fairly ascribed

to the ornaments.

"A portion of the revenue of Kashmire is transmitted to the Afghan capital in shaul goods, which I had an opportunity of seeing previously to the dispatch, and, from the information then received, I am reasonably confirmed in the accuracy of this statement I have given. The shauls usually consist of three sizes, two of which, the long and the small square one, are in common use in India; the other, long and very narrow, with a large mixture of black colour in it, is worn as a girdle by the northern Asiatics.

"A wine is made in Kashmire, resembling that of Madeira, which, if skilfully manufactured, by age, would possess an excellent quality. A spirituous liquor is also distilled from the grape, in which, and the wine, the people of all kinds freely indulge.

"The Kashmirians fabricate the best writing paper of the east, which was formerly an article of extensive traffic; as were its lacquer ware, cutlery and sugars; and the quality of these manufactures cleare ly evince, that were the inhabitants governed by wise and liberal princes, there are few attainments of art which they would not acquire. But the heavy oppressions of the government,

and the rapacious temper of the bordering states, who exercise an unremitting rapacity on the foreign traders, and often plunder whole cargoes, have reduced the commerce of Kashmire to a declining and languid state. In proof of this position, the Kashmirians say, that during their subjection to the Mogul dominion, the province

con

contained forty thousand shaul looms, and that at this day there are not sixteen thousand. In Kashmire are seen merchants and commercial agents of most of the principal cities of northern India, also of Tartary, Persia and Turkey, who at the same time advance their fortunes, and enjoy the pleasures of a fine climate and a country, over which are profusely spread the various beauties of nature.

"The dress of the Kashmirians consists of a large turban, awkwardly put on ; a great woollen vest with wide sleeves; and a sack, wrapped in many folds round the middle: under the vest, which may be properly called a wrapper, the higher class of people wear a pirahun or shirt, and drawers; but the lower order have no under garment, nor do they even gird up their loins. On first seeing these people in their own country, I imagined from their garb, the cast of countenance, which is long and of a grave aspect, and the form of their beards,that I had come amongst a nation of Jews. The same idea impressed also Mr. Bernier, who, carrying it further, has attempted, by the aid of some proofs more specious than substantial, to deduce their origin from the Jewish tribes that were carried into captivity.

"The dress of the women is no less awkward than that of the men, and is ill adapted to display the beauties they naturally possess. Their outward, and often only garment is of cotton, and shaped like a long loose shirt. Over the hair, which falls in a single braid, they wear a close cap, usually of a woollen cloth of a crimson colour; and to the hinder part of it is attached a triangular piece of the same stuff,

which falling on the back conceals much of the hair. Around the lower edge of the cap is rolled a small turban, fastened behind with a short knot, which seemed to me the only artificial ornament about them. You will be pleased to notice, that I speak of the dress of the ordinary women, such only being permitted to appear in public. The women of the higher classes are never seen abroad; nor is it consistent with the usage of any Mahometan nation even to speak of the female part of a family.

"The Kashmirians are stout, well formed, and, as the natives of a country lying in the thirty-fourth degree of latitude, may be termed a fair people, and their women in southern France or Spain would be called brunettes. But having been prepossessed with an opinion of their charms, I suffered a sensible disappointment; though I saw some of the female dancers most celebrated for beauty and the attractions of their profession. A coarseness of figure generally prevails among them, with broad features, and they too often have thick legs. Though excelling in the colour of their complexion, they are evidently surpassed by the elegant form and pleasing countenance of the women of some of the western provinces of India.

"The city of Kashmire once abounded with courtesans, equally gay and affluent; but the rigorous contributions of the Afghans have greatly reduced their number, and driven most of those that remain into a languid poverty. The few that I saw, afforded me much pleasure by their graceful skill in dancing, and voices peculiarly melodious. And here let me observe, lest I should afterwards forget, that the women of Kashmire are singu

larly

larly fruitful: be the government ever so oppressive, or fortune at all points adverse, no baneful effects are seen to operate on the propagation of the species, which is maintained with a successful perseverance. I will not presume to investigate the physical cause of a virtue so copiously inherent in the men and women of this country, but will simply intimate to you that its waters are well stored with fish, which is thought to be a generative stimulus, and constitutes a principal article of the food of the people. "The language of Kashmire evidently springs from the Sanscrit stock, and resembles in sound that of the Mahrattas, though with more harshness, which has probably induced the inhabitants to compose their songs in the Persic, or adopt those of the Persian poets. Yet in despite of the unpleasant tone of their speech, there is scarcely a person in the country, from youth to old age, who has not a taste for music.

"The Kashmirians are gay and lively people, with strong propensities to pleasure. None are more eager in the pursuit of wealth, have more inventive faculties in acquiring it, or who devise more modes of luxurious expence. When a Kashmirian, even of the lowest order, finds himself in the possession of ten shillings, he loses no time in assembling his party, and launching into the lake, solaces himself till the last farthing is spent. Nor can the despotism of an Afghan government, which loads them with a various oppression and cruelty, eradicate this strong tendency to dissipation; yet their manners, it is said, have undergone a manifest change, since the dismemberment of their country from Hindostan. Encouraged by the liberality and indulgence of the Moguls, they gave a

loose to their pleasures and the bent of their genius. They appeared in gay apparel,constructed costly buildings, and were much addicted to the pleasures of the table. The interests of this province were so strongly favoured at the court, that every complaint against its governors was attentively listened to, and any attempt to molest the people, restrained or punished.

"In the reign of Aurungzebe, when the revenue of the different portions of the empire exceeded that of the present day, the sum collected in Kashmire amounted to three and a half lacks of rupees, but at this time, not less than twen ty lacks are extracted by the Afghan governor, who, if his tribute be regularly remitted to court, is allowed to execute with impunity every act of violence. This extreme rigour has sensibly affected the deportment and manners of the Kashmirians, who shrink with dread from the Afghan oppressions, and are fearful of making any display of opulence. A Georgian merchant, who had long resided in the country, gave me the most satisfactory information of Kashmire. He said, that when he first visited the province, which was.governed by a person of a moderate disposition, the people were licentious, volatile, and profuse. But that, since the administration of the late chief, an Afghan of a fierce and rapacious teniper, they had become dispirited, their way of living mean, their dress slovenly, and, though of a temper proverbially loquacious, they were averse from communicating ordinary intelligence.

"During my residence in Kashmire, I often witnessed the harsh treatment which the common peo. ple received at the hands of their masters, who rarely issued an order

without

without a blow of the side of their hatchet, a common weapon of the Afghans, and used by them in war, as a battle-axe. Though the inhabitants of this province are held under a grievous subjection, and endure evils the most mortifying to human nature, being equally oppressed and insulted, the various testimonies brought home to me of their common depravity of disposition, made me the less sensible of their distress; and in a short time so faint was the trace of it on my mind, that I even judged them worthy of their adverse fortune.

"In viewing the manners of a people at large, it were at once a sacrifice of truth and every claim to historical merit, to introduce passionate or fanciful colouring; yet the coolest reflection does not withhold me from saying, that I never knew a national body of men more impregnated with the principles of vice, than the natives of Kashmire. The character of a Kashmirian is conspicuously seen when invested with official power. Supported by an authority which prescribes no limits to its agents, in the accumulation of public emoluments, the Kashmirian displays the genuine composition of his mind. He becomes intent on immediate aggrandizement, without rejecting any instrument which can promote his purpose. Rapacious and arrogant, he evinces in all his actions deceit, treachery, and that species of refined cruelty, which usually actuates the conduct of a coward. And it is said, that he is equally fickle in his connections, as implacable in enmity. In behalf of humanity, I could wish not to have been capacitated to exhibit so disgusting a picture, which being constantly held out to me for near three months, in various lights, but 1798.

with little relief, impressed me with a general dislike of mankind.

"The Kashmirians are so whimsically curious, that when any trivial question is proposed to them, its intention and purpose is inquired into with a string of futile interrogatories, before the necessary information is given; and a shopkeeper rarely acknowledges the pos-` session of a commodity, until he is apprised of the quantity required. In examining the situation in which these people have been placed, with its train of relative effects, the speculative moralist will perhaps discover one of the larger sources from whence this cast of manners and disposition has arisen. He will perceive that the singular position of their country, its abundant and valuable produce, with a happy climate, tend to excite strong inclinations to luxury and effeminate pleasures; and he is aware, that to counteract causes, naturally tending to enervate and corrupt the mind, a system of religion or morality is necessary to inculcate the love of virtue, and especially to impress the youth with early sentiments of justice and humanity. But he will evidently see, that neither the religious nor the moral precepts of the present race of Mahometans contain the principles of rectitude or philanthropy; that, on the contrary, they are taught to look with abhorrence on the fairest portion of the globe, and to persecute and injure those who are not inclosed in the fold of their prophet. Seeing then the Kashmirians, presiding as it were at the fountain head of pleasure, neither guided nor checked by any principle or example of virtue, he will not be surprised, that they give a wide scope to the passions of the mind and the enjoyments of the body."

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ACCOUNT of the NATIVES of TCHOKA ISLAND, and of the Eastern

TARTARS.

[From the second Volume of a VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, in the Years 1785-8, by J. F. G. DE LA PEROUSE.]

"TH

HESE people are very intelligent, respect property, have no distrust, and communicate readily with strangers. They are of a middle size, squat and strongly built, a little inclining to fat, and have the muscles of their bodies well defined. The general stature is five feet; but there are instances of men five feet four inches, though the number is few. They have all a large bead, and a broader and rounder face than that of Eure peans. Their countenance is lively and agreeable, though destitute, on the whole, of that grace and regularity which are necessary with us to constitute beauty. They have large cheeks, a short nose, rounded at the extremity, and broad nostrils. Their eyes are lively, of a moderate size, and in some instances blue, but for the most part black, with bushy eye-brows. The mouth is of the common size, the voice strong, and the lips, which are rather thick, are of a deep red. We remarked in some, that the middle of the upper lip was painted blue. These features of the face, as well as their eyes, were capable of expressing every sentiment. Their teeth are beautifully white, extremely even, and of the usual number; their chin is round and a little prominent. Their ears, which are small, they perforate, and wear in them glass ornaments and rings of silver.

"The women are smaller than the men, and have a more round and delicate figure; but in the fea

tures of their faces there is little difference. Their upper lip is entirely tattoed of a blue colour, and they wear their hair long and flowing. Their dress is in nothing dif ferent from that of the men. The colour of the skin in both sexes is tawny, and their nails, which they suffer to grow to a considerable length, are a shade darker than those of Europeans. These islanders are extremely hairy, and have long bushy beards, which gives a grave and venerable aspect, particularly to the old men, who appeared to be held in great respect by the younger part of the inhabitants. The hair of the head in general is black, smooth, and moderately strong; but in some it is chesnut; they all wear it round, about six inches long behind, and cut into a brush on the forehead and temples.

"Their dress consists of a kind of cassock or gown, the fore-parts of which wrap over each other, and which is fastened by small buttons or strings, and a girdle placed above the hips. This gown is made of skin, or of quilted nankeen, a stuff which they fabricate of the bark of the willow. It reaches to the calf of the leg, and sometimes lower, and supersedes the necessity of drawers. Some wear seal-skin boots, the foot of which, in form and workmanship, resembles the Chinese shoe; but the majority have no covering either for the feet or the head, a bandage of bear's skin excepted, which a few wear round

the

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