Ground down as they are by the system of perpetual oppression, we ceased to wonder at the lowness of their morals as we saw more of the working of the rule they live under. No nation in the world is taxed as the Cashmerians are (or were, for I write of 1868). Two thirds of everything is taxed for the benefit of the Maharajah, and to see that this is duly paid a host of officials are employed, who in their turn rob the unfortunate ratepayers, till (I am within the mark) I have been assured by those who ought to know that three-fourths of every man’s possessions are yearly taken from him in this grievously burdened land. It was very long before we understood the small enthusiasm shown when we congratulated the people on their smiling crops and fair prospect of a heavy harvest. What matters it to them whether the produce be good or bad?--enough will be left them for their subsistence, and more for seed for next year’s sowing. But all the rest finds its way, much lightened by the hands it passes through, to the Maharajah’s coffers. Our farmers at home grumble, but they live in a free country--let them be thankful. The Cashmerian sows his land, a government official comes down on his inspection visit, and desires that each field should produce so many maunds of grain. In vain the farmer protests that his land cannot yield such a crop; he is not listened to, and woe to him if to the last seer the number of maunds be not forthcoming. He is sold out--everything he has is taken from him to pay his debt to the Maharajah. We saw this beautiful and fatherly care of a prince for his people in full form in the Lolab Valley. We were riding past a village along a narrow path; it was getting dusk, and we had to leave our road because four or five men who were sitting down did not get out of the way. It was an unusual rudeness. Next morning we passed the same way, and there were the men still on the ground. No wonder they had not moved, even for a sahib, for their legs were bound fast and firm in stocks, there to remain till it was the Maharajah’s good pleasure to release them. All that they could call their own had been sold to pay for deficient crops, but much more was still marked against them. ‘Cashmere was conquered in A.D. 1587 by Akbar’s brother-in-law, the Rajah of Jeypore, when the Mahomedan king of that province was enrolled among the nobles of the court; and this lovely valley, the paradise of Asia, became the summer retreat of the emperors of Delhi.’--_History of India, by John Clark Marsham, vol. i._ ‘It was conquered by Runjeet Sing in 1819.’--_Ibid. vol. iii._