The Cashmerians are supposed to have a religion of their own, different from that of the Ilindoos. Abul Fazil says, that the most respectable people of that coun try are the Rey slices, who, though they do not suffer themselves to be fettered by traditions, are doubtless true worshippers of God. It appeared to some who had tra velled in those parts, that the inhabitants generally were extremely lax, in regard to matters of a religious kind, being ready to adopt any system, or none, as might best suit their particular interests, or as might be recom mended to them by prevalent fashion. Yet, every where here, there occur the evidences of the force or supersti the places of worship dedicated to Mahadeo, to Bishen, and to 13i-win', abounding throughout this se questered spot, and great respect being paid to miracu lous fountains, or other things or places esteemed holy.
Numbers of hermits lime been observed in this quar ter, who occupy places nearly inaccessible, and are high ly venerated, some of them being supposed to have the power a exciting the hiry of the elements, or to ix•ssess other supernatural or miracidous endowments.
The population Of Cashmere is stated to be, iu propor tion to its extent, very considerable. The plains almond with inhabitants, as also, where they will admit of it, the declivities of the hills. The Cashmerians are stout, well formed, aml as the natives of a country that lies so much within the range of the greater heats of the sun, may be considered a lair people. They have been praised, but apparently without adequate ground, for the fine ness of their features, and for countenances rather Eu ropean than of Tartarian aspect. Certainly these ad vantages are more subject to question, at least, than that which has been attributed to them in respect to the co lour of their complexion. On the contrary, it would ap peal that the features, even of their females, are ordina rily broad, and that there prevails among them a coa•se ness of figure.
The dress of the people of Cashmere consists of a large turban, a great woollen vest with wide sleeves, (under which people of the higher class wear a pirahun, or shirt, and drawers,) and a sash, wrapped in many folds round the middle. The women of the higher class
are never seen abroad, so that little can be said relative to their dress , but the external, and often only garment worn by those of the inferior orders, is of cotton, and shaped like a long loose shirt. Their principal, or only ornaments—an article in which indeed they do not much indulge—are introduced in the manner of dressing their hair. This people are generally gay and lively, and much addicted to pleasure, which inclination, though somewhat blunted, has not been wholly eradicated in them, even under the rigours of the Afghan govern ment.
The prevailing character of the Cashinerians has been drawn by one who, at no very distant period, visited that country, in lineaments little honourable to them. He never knew. he says, a national body of men more im pregnated with the principles of vice than the natives of Cashmere. He represents them as eager in the pursuit of wealth, ambitious in seeking aggrandisement, indif ferent as to the means by which those objects of their desire may be attained ; arrogant, on the one hand, and rapacious, and on the other ingenious in devising and multiplying modes of luxurious expense; deceitful and treacherous ; with the cruelty of cowards ; fickle in friendship, and implacable in enmity. In short, it would appear that the numerous train of despicable vices, usually called forth and kept alive in a state of slavery, are here exhibited in frightful deformity ; and a land that nature formed for a terrestrial paradise, is, through the depravity of the inhabitants, converted into a scene which, instead of any of the more grateful sentiments of the human mind, is calculated only to excite a heart-felt pity, or a most mortifying and painful detestation. Sec Dictionnaire de la Grog. commerfante, par J. Penehet ; Bernier's Travels ; Thevenot's Taave/s; Reimers Me moir; Forster's Journey, &c.; .3Iemoir on the Irool and Sheefi of Cashmere and Boutan, by Alex. le Goux de Flaix, in the Philosofih. .Naga:. vol. xviii. ; and Pen nant's Indian Zoology. (•)