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0061 The Pulse of Asia : vol.1
アジアの鼓動 : vol.1
The Pulse of Asia : vol.1 / 61 ページ(カラー画像)

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doi: 10.20676/00000233
引用形式選択: Chicago | APA | Harvard | IEEE

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to the people of the plains south of the Himalayas. The wall
of mountains encircling the Vale has not only made invasion
a rare occurrence, but has restricted external trade and
migration. Hence the Kashmiris, as the inhabitants are
called, have been left largely to work out their own destiny
undisturbed by outside influences. Three religions have
prevailed successively, — Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Mo-
hammedanism; and each has doubtless had its appropriate
effect. Nevertheless, according to Stein, the chief authority
on the history of Kashmir, the character of the mass of the
people seems to have changed but little since the Buddhist
days, thirteen centuries ago, when the keen Chinese pil-
grim, Hwen Tsiang, described the Kashmiris as "light and
frivolous, and of a weak, pusillanimous disposition; hand-
some in appearance, given to cunning, fond of learning,
and well instructed." Apparently, the character of the
Kashmiris of to-day is largely the result of modifications
produced by physical environment upon the racial traits
which the original settlers brought with them.
Because of the difficulty of crossing the mountain passes,
Kashmir has always been isolated; strangers have rarely
visited the country; the natives have not often gone out.
Hence, as has been often said, the Kashmiri has become
cowardly, exclusive, and suspicious. Until lately he has
hated and feared the few foreigners whom he has seen,
has suspected them of designing evil against himself, and,
naturally, has tried to keep them out. The cowardice of
the Kashmiri outside Kashmir is proverbial; and at home
it is laughable. Several times in the street, when I met men
and unexpectedly turned on them, or asked them questions,