The romantic East: Burma, Assam, & Kashmir - Khamkoo

172 THE ROMANTIC EAST
But we heard a different story from an older
sahib, who explained that the surveying parties we
had seen on the right
bank of the Jehlam, from the
road up to Baramula, were engaged
in the final
surveys for the railway which would come up from
Domel on that side, and which may be worked by
electricity supplied by an installation utilising the
water-power of the river. It was not yet known
whether the connection
with the North Western
Railway would be made at Rawal Pindi or at
Hasan Abdal, and through trains are not expected
to run into the valley for at least five years.
" Then,'* said he, " Kashmir will be utterly ruined.
It has been spoilt by petticoats already. Before
the tonga road was built, and the mem-sahibs
began to come, we sahibs indeed lived a happy life.
We had the finest sport,
and the best the country
afforded in the way of shelter, clothing, food, and
women, and we found all of them good enough
without importing any of these necessities. Then
the mem-sahibs came, and now we must live in big
houses, dress in fine linen, eat tinned food, and give
up our bachelor ways Why couldn't they leave
!
well enough alone "
?