12 KASHMIR
The people of Kashmír are now mostly Mohammedan. Physically of fine form, a large proportion of the town- people are enfeebled by poverty and sedentary occupation in close rooms. A few years ago the shawl weavers of Srínagar were reckoned to be about 22 per cent. of the inhabitants. The proportion is now less, owing to the reduced demand for Kashmír shawls, both loom-made and hind-sewn. The maharájá has endeavoured to meet the depression of the shawl trade by extension of silk manufactures; silk is successfully worked, and well dyed. The chief demand for shawls has generally been from France, and French patterns have somewhat interfered with native art. At Islamabad also many hands are employed in shawl and blanket weaving. A kind of coarse chintz is also made there. Embroidery on fine woollen cloths is the employment of many Kashmírís, both in their own country and in their Indian settlements, Amritsar, Núrpúr, and Ludhiána. The manufacture of a variety of articles in papier mâché and ornamental painted wood-work employs a number of people in Srínagar. The silversmiths do a good deal of business in ornamental vases, goblets, flower-holders, &c., silver and silver gilt. Engraved and embossed copper work employs a smaller number of people; also the manufacture of ornamental vessels of tinned copper, and some other minor kinds of work. A very good kind of paper is made in Kashmír. A museum of Kashmír products and manufactures was established at Srínagar in 1875. The people of the country, with more healthful occupations and surroundings than those of the towns, especially Srínagar, are robust and of active habits. The Kashmírís, both men and women, wear commonly a kind of loose gown with sleeves, called phéran (Pers., pairáhan, "a robe"). In cold weather they are in the habit of carrying, under this loose dress, a small portable brazier with heated charcoal. The country people and boatmen use a more close-fitting costume. The mountaineers, like those of neighbouring hill countries, bandage the legs from the knee to the foot for protection in walking.
According to a report prepared by order of the maharájá in 1873, the population of the valley at that time was nearly 492,000. Of these about 64,000 were Hindus and the rest Moslems, about 4 per cent. of the latter being Shiites. The estimated population of Jamú was 861,000, of Púnch 77,500, of Ládák, Iskardo, and Gilgit, 104,500; total about 1,535,000: – Hindus, 507,000; Moslems, 919,000; Buddhists, 20,000; and "miscellaneous," 89,000. Of Srínagar the estimated population was about 132,000, of which number nearly 40,000 were Hindus. A great diminution, caused by deaths and emigration, has followed the famine of 1878. It was said that the towns of Islámábád and Sopúr lost nearly two-thirds of their inhabitants. The rice crop of 1879 was abundant, and the rains of the next year seasonable and plentiful. The shawl-weaving and carpet-making trades revived in 1880, and numbers of people who had left the country during the famine returned.
The language of Kashmír (which is spoken only in the valley itself, and in the few outlying settlements of Kashmírís in the neighbouring hills and in northern India) is of the Aryan family. It is allied to the Hindí, Sindí, and Punjabí, and also to the current Urdú of India (Hindustání). It uses a form of the Sanskrit character like the Nágarí of the Punjab. It may be said to possess no literature, though Kashmír has produced many literary men. The Urdú is now very generally understood in Kashmír, among the better educated people and more intelligent artisans.
The chief articles of export from Kashmír are shawls and other woollen fabrics, rice, saffron, fruits. The chief imports are shawl wool, English piece goods, Indian cloths, metals, precious stones, skins, felts, dye-stuffs, tea, charas (hemp juice), groceries, and salt. The imports into Kashmír from British India are much below those into Jamú, except tea (of which the Kashmírís are extremely fond), indigo, and earthenware. Kashmír imports annually a very large amount of rock salt from the Punjab. The gross annual value of the imports is about £210,000, and of the exports about £172,000. This latter amount is less than formerly, owing chiefly to the reduced demand for shawls. The import duties, which used to be very heavy, were modified in 1864; the duty on piece goods was limited to 8 per cent. and on other imports to 12½ per cent. In April 1870 a commercial treaty was entered into with the British Government for developing trade with eastern Turkestan, in which, among other things, the maharájá agreed to abolish all transit duties. Joint commissioners were appointed, on the part of the two Governments, to reside at Leh.
The gross annual revenue of Kashmír is believed to be about £550,000, and of the maharájá's whole territories a little over £800,000. The chief source of income is the land revenue. Of this there is now a cash settlement in place of the annual valuation of crops which was the practice till lately. The Government ordinarily takes one-half the gross produce. Grain is stored in public granaries, and sold at fixed rates to the army and the civil officials. Much grain is also purchased from the zamindárs, and stored by Hindu merchants in Srínagar.
The maharájá's military force numbers 25,600 infantry (including police), 1400 cavalry, and 1200 artillery, with 78 field guns and 80 other pieces.
At Srínagar and elsewhere the maharájá has established dispensaries, with native medical men educated in India; and he has built at his own cost a large hospital for the medical mission at Srínagar.
The current rupee of Kashmír, called chilkí ("glittering"), has varied in value at different times from one-half to five-eighths of the rupee of British India. The latest issued bears the latter value.
The admission of British visitors to Kashmír each season is limited. To military officers, up to a fixed number, permission is granted by the commander-in-chief or by the Government of India. Others do not require previous permission, but must intimate their intention of going to Kashmír, and obtain a copy of the rules. In like manner, more than eight centuries ago, as we learn from the Arabic historian Al Birúní, the passes used to be watched, and few outsiders admitted. Connected with this long-cherished exclusiveness has been the general badness of the roads. A really improved road has been made by the present maharájá from Kohala to Baramúla, the easiest and best entrance to the valley. The author just referred to mentions the covered litters, in which people in Kashmír used to be carried, raised on men's shoulders. The same conveyances are in use now. To the present day there are no wheeled conveyances in Kashmír. For English visitors four routes are authorized by the Government of India, one by the Pir Panjál Pass and three by Baramúla, – from Púnch, from Murree, and from Muzaffarábád.
In the government of his own territories the "maharájá of Jummoo and Kashmír" is independent. His relations with other states are subject to the supreme authority of the Government of India. The Government of India has no resident at either of the maharájá's capitals, but annually an "officer on special duty," as he is officially termed, is sent to Kashmír during the season from March to November. A native news-writer, employed by the British Government, remains in Kashmír. The annual tribute of the maharájá, presented in token of the supremacy of the British Government, in accordance with Act X. of the
