The Akbarī Generations 88.6

88.6

On the 8th Muharram, 1001, he reached Kashmir, and stayed there eight days, riding about and hunting water-fowl. He conferred the government of Kashmir on Mirza Yusuf Khan Rizwi, and left a number of officers with him, such as * *. On the 6th Safar he started on his return journey, and, embarking in a boat, he proceeded towards Bara-mula, on the confines of Kashmir, on the way to Pakhali. On the road he saw a reservoir called Zain-lanka. This reservoir is inclosed on the west, north, and south, by mountains, and it is thirty kos in circumference. The river Behut (Jilam) passes through this lake. Its water is very pure and deep. Sultan Zainu-l 'abidin carried out a pier of stone to the distance of one jarib into the lake, and upon it erected a high building. Nothing like this lake and building is to be found in India. After visiting this edifice, he went to Bara-mula, where he disembarked, and proceeded by land to Pakhali. When he reached that place, there was a heavy fall of snow and rain. From thence he went on rapidly to Rohtas. I, the author of this history, and * * were ordered to follow slowly with the ladies of the harem. It is a curious fact, that when the Emperor started on his return from Kashmir, he observed, "It is forty years since I saw snow, and there are many men with me, born and bred in Hind, who have never seen it.