CASHMERE. The Cashmere territory at present comprehends Jammu, Cashmere, Kishtwar, Zang skar, Ladakh, and Balti. A chronicle exists which was composed in A.D. 1125, but gives a general historical account of Cashmere from B.C. 1182. The Abissares chief, who with rich presents con ciliated Alexander as he approached the Indus, is supposed to have ruled about Cashmere. The rajas of Cashmere of the line of Kuru in the Lunar race, were worshippers of the Naga or Snake. The early chronology of Cashmere is full of doubts, though Professor Wilson, Captain Troyer, and Major Cunningham all coincide in regard to the proper period of the initial date of the Naga dynasty. The line is taken from the raja which commences with an account of the desiccation of the valley by Kasyapa muni, supposed to allude to the Deluge. Cashmere was colonized by Kasyapa B.C. 2666. There were many dynasties of Cashmere—kings of the Kaurava race, 1266 years, with one of whom, Gonerda, authentic history commenced in B.C. 2448. Lava, in 1709 p.c., was the Loo of Mahomedan historians.
Surendra, B.O. 1600, was contemporary of Bahman of Persia.
The Gonerdiya dynasty, 1013 years, or 378 years after adjustment.
The Aditya dynasty, .192 years.
The Gonerdiya line restored, 592 years, or 433 adjusted.
The Naga or Karkota dynasty, 280 years 5 months. The Utpal dynasty, 84 years 5 months.
The Bbota dynasty.
The Mahomedan kings.
Cashmere was annexed to the Moghul empire under Akbar in 1586 A.D., but it has since been ruled from Afghanistan by the Durani and Barakzai chiefs ; was taken from them in 1819 by Ranjit Singh, and is now held by a Dogra Rajput, chief of Jammu. After the Sutlej campaign, the treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846, left the British Government in possession of the country, hill and plain, between the rivers Beas and Sutlej, and of the hill country between the Betts and the Indus, including the provinces of Cashmere and Hazara. The British Government conferred on raja Gulab Singh, territories on the hills, and recognised his independence. Gulab Singh began life as a horseman in a troop commanded by jemadar Khooshal Singh, then the favourite chamberlain of Ranjit Singh. He soon raised
himself to an independent command, in which ho distinguished himself by making prisoner Agur Khan, chief of Rajaori. For this service the principality of Jammu was conferred on his family, and Gulab Singh took up his residence in Jammu, whence he soon extended his authority over his Rajput neighbours, and eventually into Ladakh. Ile took an important part in the nego tiations which followed the battle of Sobraon. A separate treaty (No. cxxiv.) was concluded with him at Amritsar on 16th March 1846, which put him in possession of all the hill country and its dependencies between the Indus and the Ravi, including Chamba, and excluding Lahoul, on Payment of 75 lakhs of rupees, and in exchange for the Cis-Ravi portion of Chamba. By a sub sequent arrangement in 1847, Chamba came again entirely under the British Government. In 1857, maharaja Gulab Singh died, and was succeeded by his son, Runbir Singh, to whom the right of adoption was guaranteed to the maharaja by a sunned.
The general. level of the valley of Cashmere is about 5500 feet above the sea, but at the `Valor lake and gardens of Srinuggur is only 5146 feet, in hit. 34° 46' and long. 74° 48'.
Cashmere has always been subject to earth quakes. The great bulk of the people profess Mahomedanism ; but they are of Aryan descent, of the Hindu stock, and all classes are remarkable for their physical symmetry. The chief town, Srinug gur, on both banks of the Jhelum, has 40,000 people. Islamabad, on the Jhelum, is a seat of the shawl manufacture. The fruits which attain maturity are the apple, pear, quince, peach, apricot, plum, almond, pomegranate, mulberry, walnut, hazel nut, pistachio, and melon. The gilas ' cherry is indigenous, and is cultivated in orchards. The bullace, Prunus insititia, is found nowhere else in a wild state. The vine is extensively cultivated. In 1878-79 the British Indian trade with Cash mere amounted to Rs. 81,61,169, viz. imports, Rs. 55,85,369; and exports, Rs. 25,75,800. — ElphiiJ. caubul, p. 506 ; Prinsep's Antiquities, by Thomas; Cleghorn, Panjab Report, p. 171 ; Aitche son's Treaties, etc.