escends
from the Burzil pass (13,500 feet) the country of Astor is reached. It
is drained by the Astor river, which joins the Indus to the south of
Bunji. The bridge which crosses it at Ramghat is only 3800 feet above
sea level. The village of Astor itself is at a height of 7853 feet. The
cultivation is of the same description as that in Baltistan. The aspect
of the country is bleak till the Indus is crossed, and Gilgit (4890
feet) is reached. Here there is a fertile well-watered oasis from which
on every side great mountain peaks are visible. The lands are heavily
manured. Rice, maize, millet, buckwheat, cotton, wheat, barley, rape,
and lucerne are grown. There is a second and easier road to Gilgit
from India over the Babusar pass at the top of the Kagan Glen in Hazara.
But the posts are sent by the Kashmir road. The Astoris and Gilgitis are
a simple easy-going folk, and, like the Baltis, very fond of polo. A
British Political Agent is stationed at Gilgit. He is responsible to the
Government of India for the administration of Hunza, Nagar, and Yasin,
and of the little republics in the neighbourhood of Chilas. Hunza and
Nagar lie to the north of Gilgit near the junction of the Muztagh and
Hindu Kush ranges, and Yasin far to the west about the upper waters of
the Gilgit river.

[Illustration: Fig. 142. Zojila Pass (page 12).]

In Astor and Gilgit also Gulab Singh's Dogras replaced the Sikh troops.
But across the Indus Gulab Singh was never strong, and after 1852 that
river was his boundary. He died in 1857, having proved himself a hard
and unscrupulous, but a capable and successful ruler. His son, Randhir
Singh, was a better man, but a worse king. A good Hindu, tolerant, and a
friend of learning, he had not the force of character to control the
corrupt official class, and the people suffered much in consequence. He
was a loyal ally in the Mutiny. In 1860 his forces recovered Gilgit, a
conquest which for years after was a fruitful source of suffering to his
Cis-Indus subjects. The present Maharaja, Sir Pratap Singh, G.C.S.I.,
succeeded in 1885. While he lived his brother, Raja Amar Singh, played a
very important part in Kashmir affairs. From 1887 to 1905 the
administration was managed by a small council, of which after 1891 the
Maharaja was President and Raja Amar Singh Vice-President. It was
abolished in 1905. There are now under the Maharaja a chief minister and
ministers in charge of the home and revenue departments.