The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c17.37

v4.c17.37

As the royal train penetrated higher into the mountains it had to divide into parties, because supplies could not be brought together for the whole retinue. Arrived in the vale of Kashmīr Jahāngīr was able to indulge his love of nature, and the journal is full of well-phrased descriptions of the meadows abounding in wild flowers, the stately trees, the springs, cascades and the brooks starting from these and swelling into majestic rivers, or expanding into picturesque lakes. On this and his many succeeding visits he planned and carried out the construction of houses and gardens, some of which still exist. While the emperor thus found new pleasures to distract his mind from his failing health his court, from the highest nobles to the meanest servant, suffered from bad lodging, from the inclemency of the weather to which they were not accustomed, and from the dearness and scarcity of food.