334 IN THE VISION OF GOD

Ramdas as uncommon was that the guests were served
meals in big earthen howls.

The relations "between the, Muslims and pandits are
very cordial. The Muslims, amongst whom illiteracy
prevails to an amazing degree, are naturally undeveloped in
moral culture, clean living and refined manners, although
they are accomplished in arts, handicrafts, trade and agri-
culture. The Muslims have free access to the houses of
pandits. They can even enter the kitchen and the dining
rooms of the pandits.

Untouchability is unknown among Kashmiris, and in
the Hindufold caste distinction has no place, except that
the pandits make some difference in the various grades
among themselves based upon the traditional superiority
and prestige of ancestry. But there is free inter-dining and
inter-marriage among all classes of pandits.

Regarding the produce of the land, in addition to rice
and fruit, of which latter, a large quantity is exported to
other parts of India, the people cultivate saffron or keshar
in special fields at the close of the summer. The soil of
Kashmir is rich and alluvial.

(iii) Harl Parvat
For some days Bamdas did not move out of the house
of Janakinath, The first outing was in the company of the
lads of the house who took him to the play-ground, an
oblong plot of plain land covered with a. thick green turf,
one side of which was bordered by an avenue of tall poplars.
He watched the sports of the boys. Here he came in touch
with some educated Muslims who surrounded him on the
turf and put him various questions on religious and
spiritual matters. Since hi$ sympathies were alike for all
the religions of the world, he spoke sometimes in English
and again in Hindi about the greatness of the Prophet
Mohammed and the value of the teachings of Koran. They