KASHMIR (Contd.) 341
garden is laid out at the foot of mountains which form its
background with the extended stretch of the Dal lake
in its front.
The Shalimar garden is in several respects an exact
replica of the Nishad Bag. These gardens were first put up
by Shahjahan and Jehangir, the famous Moghul kings.
These picturesque grounds are indeed the paradise of the
Mahammadans.
While on their return journey by the same kisti in
which they had proceeded to the gardens, Amarnath nar-
rated a legal perplexity with which the magistrates of
Kashmir were confronted. While in other places movable
property, such as money and other articles are subjects of
theft, here landed property is also stolen. The lakes have a
thick growth of stout reeds and these areas are converted
into floating fields for cultivation. Bits of these fields are
often cut off by the owners of the adjoining fields with
thieving propensities, and are slid over the surface of the
water and tacked on to their own, which action results in
law suits. By evening the party returned to the city.
Ramdas also paid visits to Yicharnag, a place shaded by
giant chenar trees and with a tank famous for its sanctity,
and Ram Bagh with its beautiful fiower gardens and the
storied dharmashala for travellers, both the sites being
outside the city precincts.
Another day he made a trip to Harvan, a charming
retreat, nine miles from Srinagar. The landscape, the lake
and the running stream of dazzling water with the back-
ground of high mountains full of vegetation comprised a
most fascinating sight. He felt the subtle spell of the place.
The lake stood on a higher level facing the mountains.
When he first saw it, a soft breeze was blowing over its
bosom moving the limpid, transparent waters into ripples
that suffused its surface. During the half-hour's saunter
amidst the attractive scenes he directed his gaze again to
the lake. The breeze had stopped and the lake shone like a