‘In 1846, the Sikh army having invaded our territory, Sir Henry Harding issued a proclamation confiscating the Cis Sutlege possessions of the Lahore crown, and he annexed the Jullunder Doab, or district lying between the Sutlege and the Beeas, to the Company’s dominions, by which he obtained security for our hill stations, and a position which gave us control of the Sikh capital (Lahore). The expenses of the campaign were computed at a crore and a half of rupees--which the Lahore state was required to make good--but the profligacy of the ministers and the rapacity of the soldiers had exhausted the treasury, and, of the twelve crores Runjeet Sing left in it, there remained scarcely fifty lacs of rupees to meet the demand. Sir Henry therefore determined to take over the province of Cashmere and the highlands of Jummoo in lieu of the remaining crore. Since the death of Runjeet Sing, the powerful Raja of Jummoo, Golab Sing, had always cherished the hope of being able, by some happy turn of circumstances, to convert his principality into an independent sovereignty. During the recent contest he had played the part of an interested neutral, watching the contest, and prepared to side with the strongest. When called to assume the office of minister at Lahore, he negotiated with the Governor-General as much for his own interests as for those of the State. There could be little doubt that a clear understanding regarding the possession existed between him and the British Government; and hence it created no surprise when he stepped forward and offered to pay down the crore of rupees, on condition of being constituted the independent Raja of Cashmere and Jummoo. The sovereignty of these provinces was accordingly sold to him, but it must not be forgotten that he received only an indefeasible title to that which he actually possessed at the time. Sir Henry Hardinge by this stroke of policy obtained funds to cover the expenses of the war.’[2]--_History of India, vol. iii._ CHAPTER IX. THE VALE OF CASHMERE. MEDICAL SCIENCE IN CASHMERE--LONG AND FATIGUING MARCH--CHIKOTI--FORT OF OREE--FAQUEERS--BRIDGE OF ROPES--AN OLD FRIEND--PLAYFUL MONKEYS--TEMPLE OF BHUMNIAR--PRIMITIVE FISHING--BARRAMULA PASS--THE HAPPY VALLEY AT LAST--FORMATION OF THE VALE OF CASHMERE--CHANGE IN MODE OF TRAVELLING--DONGAHS--HERONS--THE WALLOOR LAKE--FORT OF SRINAGUR--PUG AND THE AFGHAN WARRIOR--THE MURDERER OF LORD MAYO. CHAPTER IX.