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Show 5 and support us as we proceeded across. We were usually followed by willin hsipcxs, as the Indians are always anxi ous to earn a few annas; no peopl on earth, not even the Chinese, are in such dire povert At last we came upon the old stamping mill. T was rather surprised t find a machin so anricnl as I had bee under the impressio that the mil still in oper pit of the implement, where the rags were formmv maccratcd was catiel filled it disintegrated leaves and broke trees, showing that it had not been used, as our Kashmir guide explained formnny ‘years. There was such a confusion unim in the pit that even wit rable cleaning we were unable to make photographs that woul sho\\' mc complete machine. When I inquired concerning the age of th tamper I was told that it had not been used for ten or fifteen years and tha its origin was "beyond the memory of any living person," and some of th A scca sy o ekl eemmarkblylold ey dic e ever, that the mill had been built "a hundred or more years The seat of this historical stamping millis usuallygiven as in the villag of Arach, but I have not been able to locate such a hamlet on any map o Kashmir. There is, however, a river named Arrah which lies about six mile north-cast of Nowshera. This is about the distance we travelled to reach th stamping mill. In any event, the old stamper is not situated in or near village, as we passed only a few scattered houses on our walk to its location Our local guide called the place by name, but I am uncertain whether i aps both names apply to the same place Thie mame o wportastyab amyie it Vsl el vould hav o secure one of the old papermakers of Nowshera as guide; only m woul know the obscure route to take after leaving the well-travelled ro The operation of this stamping mill and the preparation of the pulp wa formerly accomplished in the following manner: The rags, after sorting were cut or tom into small bits and strips and subjected to the action o picturesque water-driven stamper. The undershot wheel, photograph Digtal image© 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rihts reserved |