So clear the water that the grains of sand at bottom
Could be counted at midnight by a blind man.
As I gave [414] the village to my son Khan Jahan, he prepared an
entertainment there, and presented offerings. I chose a trifle in order
to please him. Half a koss from this spring, there is a fountain that
they call Machhi Bhawan, [415] above which Ray Bihari Chand, one of
the servants of my father, built an idol-temple. The beauty of this
spring is more than one can describe, and large trees of ancient
years, planes, white and black poplars, have grown up round it. I
passed the night at this place, and on Tuesday, the 31st, pitched
at the fountain of Achval. [416] The water of this spring is more
plentiful than that of the other, and it has a fine waterfall. Around
it lofty plane-trees and graceful white poplars, bringing their heads
together, have made enchanting places to sit in. As far as one could
see, in a beautiful garden, Ja`fari flowers had bloomed, so that one
might say it was a piece of Paradise. On Wednesday, the 1st of Mihr,
marching from Achval, I pitched camp near the fountain of Virnag. [417]
On Thursday, the 2nd, the feast of cups was prepared at the spring. I
gave my private attendants permission to sit down. Filling brimming
cups, I gave them Kabul peaches as a relish, and in the evening they
returned drunk (mastan, exhilarated?) to their abodes. This spring is
the source of the River Bihat, and is situated at the foot of a hill,
the soil of which, from the abundance of trees and the extent of green
and grass, is not seen. When I was a prince, I had given an order that
they should erect a building at this spring suitable to the place. It
was now completed. There was a reservoir of an octagonal shape,
forty-two yards in area and fourteen [418] gaz in depth. Its water,
from the reflection of the grass and plants on the hill, had assumed
a hue of verdure. Many fish swam in it, round it halls with domes
had been erected, and there was a garden in front of them. From the
edge of the pond to the gate [419] of the garden there was a canal 1
gaz in width and 180 [420] gaz in length, and 2 gaz in depth. Round
the reservoir was a stone walk (khiyaban-i-sang). The water of the
reservoir was so clear that, notwithstanding its 4 gaz of depth, if
a pea had fallen into it, it could have been seen. Of the trimness of
the canal and the verdure of the grass that grew below the fountain,
what can one write? Various [421] sorts of plants and sweet-smelling
herbs grew there in profusion, and among them was seen a stem
(buta), which had exactly the appearance of the variegated tail of
a peacock. It waved about in the ripple, and bore flowers here and
there. In short, in the whole of Kashmir there is no sight of such
beauty and enchanting character. It appears to me that what is upstream
[422] in Kashmir bears no comparison with (i.e., is far superior to)
what is downstream. One should stay some days in these regions, and go
round them so as to enjoy oneself thoroughly. As the hour for marching
was near, and snow was beginning to fall at the head of the passes,
I had not the leisure to linger there, and was obliged to turn my rein
towards the city. I gave an order that plane-trees should be planted
on both sides, on the banks of the canal above mentioned. On Saturday,
the 4th, I encamped at the spring of Loka Bhawan. [423] This spring
is also a pleasant spot. Although at present it is not equal to the
others, if it were to be repaired it would be very good. I ordered
them to construct a building worthy of the place, and to repair the
reservoir in front of it. On the road I passed by a spring which
they call Andha Nag [424] (blind fountain. See Iqbal-nama, 166). It
is well known that the fish in this fountain are blind. I delayed a
while near this spring, and threw in a net and caught twelve of the
fish. Of these, three were blind and nine had eyes. Evidently the
water of this spring has the effect of making them blind. Certainly
this is not devoid of strangeness. On Sunday, the 5th, I again passed
by the springs of Machhi Bhawan and Inch, and went to the city.
On Wednesday, the 8th, news arrived of the death of Hashim, s. Qasim
K. On Thursday, the 9th, Iradat K. was promoted to the governorship of
Kashmir. Mir Jumla in his place was chosen for the duty of Khansaman,
and Mu`tamid [425] K. to that of `Arz-muqarrir. The mansab of 2,000
personal and 500 horse was ordered for Mir Jumla. On the night of
Saturday, the 11th, I entered the city. Asaf K. was appointed to the
duty of Diwan of Gujarat. Sangram, Raja of Jammu, was promoted to
the mansab of 1,500 personal and 1,000 horse.
On this day I saw an unusual kind of fishing on the part of the
fishermen of Kashmir. In a place where the water was up to a man's
chest, they propelled two boats that were side by side, and so that
at one end they were in contact, and at the other end they were 14
or 15 yards apart. Two boatmen held long poles in their hands, and
sate on the outside edge of each boat (?) so as to regulate the space
between each boat, and that they should proceed equally. Then ten or
twelve boatmen got down into the water, and laying hold of the ends
of the two boats that were joined [426] together with their hands,
trampled the bottom with their feet, and moved on. The fish which
were between the boats wanted to get out of the narrow space, and
came against the feet of the boatmen. Immediately one of the boatmen
dived, and another one pressed upon his back, and with his two hands
kept him from coming to the surface. The latter caught a fish and
produced it. Some who are skilful in the art catch two fish with their
hands, and bring them to the surface. Among them was an old boatman,
who generally at each dive brought up two fish. This kind of fishing
occurs at Panj Brara, [427] and is peculiar to the Jhelam. It is not
used in ponds or in other streams. It also only takes place in the
spring when the water is not cold or impetuous (gazanda, "biting"?).
On Monday, the 13th, the feast of the Dasahra took place. According to
the annual custom, they decorated the horses in the special stables,
and those that had been entrusted to Amirs, and brought them out. At
this time I experienced in myself a shortness of breath and difficulty
in breathing. I hope that in the end, please God, it may all go well.
On Wednesday, the 15th, I went to make an autumn tour in the direction
of Safapur and the valley of Lar, situated downstream of the Kashmir
River. In Safapur there is a fine tank, and on the north side of
it a hill full of trees. It being the beginning of autumn, it had a
wonderful appearance, with trees of all colours, such as the planes,
the apricot, and others, reflected in the middle of the tank, and
very beautiful. Undoubtedly the beauties of autumn are not less than
those of spring.