Kashmir

The illustrations, by H.R. Pirie (the author's sister) are a lovely mix of washes, line drawings and watercolors. The text is about Kashmiri natives, rather than about Europeans. While it's not particularly insightful, it's more culturally-sensitive than many other contemporary works. An excerpt > The different boat-loads one sees on Friday mornings are very interesting. Some seem to contain a family party out for the day. Fore and aft are bunches of iris or lilac, and in front of the boat is hung a cage of singing birds--poor captives who, after being cooped up so long in the crowded alleys of the city, are to share the pleasures of a day in the country. The boat is open from end to end, the sides are cushioned, and floor and cushions are covered with thick white Yarkandi numdahs (felt rugs). The meals are cooked in the stern of the boat, while in the centre is the large polished samovar, in which tea will presently be brewed and served in little green or blue china bowls; with it will be served small round biscuits--sweet ones to-day, for is it not a holiday?