'A Journey from Bengal to England, through the Northern part of India, Kashmire, Afghanistan, and Persia, and into Russia, by the Caspian-Sea. By George Forster. In the Civil Service of the Honourable the East-India Company in Two Volumes. Vol. II.' [‎2] (15/314)

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clivity of the fouthern face of the hill. Yet it is evident, from
the precipitated current of the rivers of this quarter of India, that
the valley of Kafhmire is confiderably more elevated than the
Punjab plains. This height of fituation, furrounded alfo by
mountains, whofe lofty fummits are covered with fnow, during a
great part of the year, imparts a coldnefs to tlie air of Kafhmhe,
which its immediate line of latitude would not otherwife pofiefs.
Veere Naug was the firft village we halted at, within the
valley, where our party was flri&ly examined, but from the refpedt
fhewn by all claffes of people to Zulphucar Khan, we were permit
ted to pafs untaxed and unmolefted. A rare ufage at a Kafhminan
cuftom-houfe! It fliould have been before noticed, that oui
patron, from the lamenefs of his hand and a general infii m
ftate of body, was obliged to travel in a litter; a fpecies of
carriage different from any feen in the fouthern quarters of
India. The frame of four flight pieces of wood, is about four
feet and a half long, and three in breadth, with a bottom of cot
ton lacing or fplit canes interwoven. Two flout bamboo poles,
project three feet, from the end of the frame and are fattened to its
outward fldes, by iron rings. The extremities of thefe bamboos
are loofely connected by folds of cords, into which is fixed, by
clofely twitting and binding at the centre, a thick pole, three feet
long; and by thefe central poles, the litter, or as it is here calied,
the Sampan, is fupported on the (boulders of four men. This
conveyance you will fee affords no (belter againft any inclemency
of