'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.' [‎20] (33/314)

IQ
FORSTER’S TRAVELS.
would not acquire. But the heavy oppreflions of the government,
and the rapacious temper of the bordering Rates, who exercife an
unremitting rapacity on the foreign traders, and often plunder
whole cargoes, have reduced the commerce of Kafhmire to a de
clining and languid Rate. In proof of this pofition, the Kafli-
niirians fay, that during their fubjection to the Mogul dominion,
the province contained forty thoufand lhaul looms, and that at
this day, there are not fixteen thoufand. In KaRimire are feen
merchants "and commercial agents of moR of the principal cities of
northern . India, alfo of Tartary, Perfia and Turkey, who at the
fame time advance their fortunes, and enjoy the pleafures of a fine
climate and a country, over which are profufely fpread the various
beauties of nature.
The drefs of the Kafhmirians confiRs of a large turban, auk-
wardly put on 5 a great woollen veR with wide fleeves; and a lack,
wrapped in many folds round the middle; under the veR, which
may be properly called a wrapper, the higher clafs of people
wear a pirahun or fhirt, and drawers; but the lower order
have no under garment, nor do they even gird up their loins.
On firR feeing thefe people in their own country, I imagined
from their garb, the caR of countenance, which is long and of
a grave afpeft, and the form of their beards, that I had come
amongR a nation of Jews. The fame idea imprefled alfo Mr.
Bernier, who carrying it further, has attempted, by the aid of
feme proofs more fpecious than fubflantial, to deduce their
origin