"Travels in the Himalayan provinces of Hindustan and the Panjab; in Ladakh and Kashmir; in Peshawar, Kabul, Kunduz and Bokhara" by William Moorcroft

Book Review "Travels in the Himalayan provinces of Hindustan

and the Panjab; in Ladakh and Kashmir; in Peshawar, Kabul,

Kunduz and Bokhara" by William Moorcroft

Syed Nasrullah Rasheed

Department History

University of Kashmir Srinagar

William Moorcroft was a veterinarian, he joined EIC as a Stud

( Horse breeding) posted in India. He explore many Indian region,

like Himalaya region and Tebitan region.

William Moorcroft's first travel was to the North West frontline

and he brought information on Political, Culture and Natural

resources. Moorcroft was most applauded writer on early 19th

century. He wrote a book "Travels in the Himalayan provinces of

Hindustan and the Panjab; in Ladakh and Kashmir; in Peshawar,

Kabul, Kunduz and Bokhara". My assignment is only focus on

William Moorcroft Kashmir visit between November 1822-

1823.He depicts much about Valley Mountain , Moisture of

climate , walnut trees, Forest trees and Art manufacturing of

Kashmir (like Shawl manufacturer). Moorcroft was first European

who visit Kashmir, his analysis talks about the Physiograpy and

nature of the valley are report what he had already seen. The

course of Vistas or Behut does indeed from one principle valley,it

extending from the eastern to western province but the greater

part of the country is made up of Mount. A series of mountain

ranges running mostly in parallel lines from South West to North

and East. Kashmir is prominent from the Mountain countries and

it's confines the richness of vegetation.

He aslo mentioned the division of Season summer and winter ,

snow usually fall in December and dissolve from the warmer

valley in the month of March. The end of March and beginning of

April are distinguished by the popular term of dirty spring or

splash season.

In April 1823, he sad, there were four days of sunshine and large

quantities of rain and the melted snow poured in to mountain. The

remaining summer month are hot, atmosphere was humid

condition more propitious to vegetable than to animal life. Hot

spring are numerous at particular season the ground in various

places is sensibility hotter than the atmosphere and earthquake

are common (p109)

The chief river of Kashmir is Vitastha ,vehut or Behut (Hydaspes).

The Angel of mountain chiefly from the springs of viranag in

Southeast of Kashmir. It joint by a stream from the South,the

Kaimu river(MP) and another from the north , the river of Brang

Behut proceeds receive other streams as the lambodari ot Udder

from Northeast. Amarnath and Shupien or Shuingulu river Whitis

formed by various rivulets from the north of Pir panchal mount.

Dudhganga joined from the South by Haratirtha river and then

flows through an angle of walur lake. It joined by the Lalkoal river

from the north after which proceed to the pass orf Baramulla.

Then it turn Muzafarabad river and then Panja. Where it's known

as the Jhelum. The Wular or Ular lake is an elliptical (egg) form.

The city of Kashmir is formerly called Srinagar.

Author also talk about the Kohimaran long narrow fort , below the

fort of whit on the edge of rock whit command the city.The Dal is

nearly circular it's supplied chiefr by the water of valley to the east

of Shalimar garden.

Towards the Haraparbat the Dal break into sevel small canals

,Raniwari canal is one among them, it's commencement it's

called also the water of Khajyarbal small supply from the

Northword

Lakkhi canal was constructed by Zain Ul Abidin. Although the

branch of canal goes off to the Tejbal on east of the lake and the

rest of it's water passes towards foot of old wall of nagar.

In this book volume 2 he mentioned about Wooden bridges and

the house are in general two or three strorr and used unburnt

bricks and timber, not plastered and ruinous condition with

broken door. Houses of better class are commonly separated and

surrounded by wall and garden, and later it communication with

canal. He would go and collect some seeds. And he first went

across the Jhelum and the lake by boat and then over the hills

into the valley. In those days it was a much wilder and wilder

place than it is today, and when Moorcroft finally arrived it proved

to be sometimes waist-deep in snow.

Author reference about The Mother's tomb of Zain ul Abidin , who

resigned in the middle of fifteenth. It's said to have made and use

of ancient Hindu temples and octagonal building of bricks.

The shrine of Sayed Ali Hmadani is constructed chiefr of the

wood of Deodar and adorn with pyramidal. Also details about the

infast of Jama Masjid Srinagar he mentioned this mosqu has

been fouu time destroyed by frie but later it was rebuilt by

Aurangzeb.

This Masjid consist in great part of wood ,and woolden piller use

of roughly stone and upper of brick. The piller of Masjid is three

hundred and eight four.

Columns are formed as assemblies of square blocrof Deodar, it's

High near abt 10 feet but some are taller. He also gave a valuable

information about Bridges over the canals and these bridges they

used Deodar timbers, one of the bridge is Zana Kadal. Shops are

also built in wood. He mentioned other beings over the Vitastha

as Habakadal, Fathehkadal, Alikadal, and Amirkadal. These

bridges are built in same manner.

Kashmiri chief interests in Shawls the people are employed in

shawl manufacturer. Every shawl being stamped and the stamp

duty being 26% upto the estimated value. Every trade is taxed ,

bakers, boatman and butchers.

The people of valley are most object condition, exorbitantly texted

by the Sikh government and subjected to every kind of extortion

and oppression by officer. Due to this system valleys

depopulation gradual. He talks about Khalsa land are now as here

to fore let out for cultivation. Those near the city are called Sar

Kishti, those more reomte called Pai Kishti or head and foot

upper and lower cultivation. Division of farmers took place and

government this was known as equal division.

Cultivator of valley are in condition of extreme wretchedness. If

the cultivator disproportionate the demand of state was not

sufficient oppressive the evil is aggravated by mode adopted of

disposing of government share.

According to Moorcroft Pen cases was a beautiful art of valley

which distinguishes valley art with rest of the world. He classified

pen cases in two categories Masnandi or royal, and Farsi or

Persian. Masnandi are article of table furniture and Persian was

usually long shallow boxes. Paper was made in considerable

quality, for old clothes of the san hemp( fibre plant) And from

cotton rags.He also visit Sogam (Lolab) he described Lolab is

almost in savage state. Men in generally tall and healthy, the

women Haggard and ill looking.

Moorecroft gratefully returned to his medicine and further

investigations into the botany and rural agriculture of Kashmir.

He mentioned the hills behind Shalimar Gardens, and examines

the medicinal root that grows there and also Inspected saffron

cultivation near Srinagar.