In Astor and Gilgit also Gulab Singh's Dogras replaced the Sikh troops. But across the Indus Gulab Singh was never strong, and after 1852 that river was his boundary. He died in 1857, having proved himself a hard and unscrupulous, but a capable and successful ruler. His son, Randhir Singh, was a better man, but a worse king. A good Hindu, tolerant, and a friend of learning, he had not the force of character to control the corrupt official class, and the people suffered much in consequence. He was a loyal ally in the Mutiny. In 1860 his forces recovered Gilgit, a conquest which for years after was a fruitful source of suffering to his Cis-Indus subjects. The present Maharaja, Sir Pratap Singh, G.C.S.I., succeeded in 1885. While he lived his brother, Raja Amar Singh, played a very important part in Kashmir affairs. From 1887 to 1905 the administration was managed by a small council, of which after 1891 the Maharaja was President and Raja Amar Singh Vice-President. It was abolished in 1905. There are now under the Maharaja a chief minister and ministers in charge of the home and revenue departments. Judicial business is controlled by the Judge of the High Court. Death sentences must be confirmed by the Maharaja. The highest executive officers are the governors of Jammu and Kashmir, and the _Wazirs Wazarat_ of Ladakh and Gilgit. In Jammu and Kashmir each of the eight districts is in charge of a _Wazir Wazarat_. In connection with the land revenue settlement, forests, etc., the services of British officers have been lent to the State. The Government of India is represented at Srinagar by a Resident, and a political agent at Gilgit exercises a general supervision over the _Wazir Wazarat_. During the reign of the present Maharaja great reforms have been effected. The construction of the Gilgit road has done away with the blood tax, which the conveyance of supplies to that remote post formerly involved. The land revenue settlement has largely substituted cash for kind payments and done away with many abuses. Official corruption and oppression have been scotched, but would speedily revive if vigilance were relaxed. The different peoples ruled by the Maharaja are easily governed if properly treated, and violent crime is rare. * * * * * _Note._ In the map appended to Dr Arthur Neve's _Thirty Years in Kashmir_ the heights of Gasherbrum and Masherbrum (see page 21) are given respectively as 26,360 and 25,560 feet, and that of Hidden Peak, S.E. of Gasherbrum, as 26,470 feet. These with _K2_ are the highest mountains round the Baltoro Glacier. Further east is the Siachen, "the greatest glacier in Asia," which feeds the Nubra river (page 36). N.E. of the Siachen is the Teram Kangri mountain, the height of which does not probably exceed 25,000 feet. The actual height of the Nun Kun (page 12) is 23,447 feet. Dr Neve gives that of the Karakoram Pass as 18,110 feet, not 18,550 as stated on page 20. CHAPTER XXIX CITIES