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 152 THE HISTORY OF KASHMIR

British Government “transferred and made over, for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Golab Singh and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly and mountainous country, with its de- pendencies, situated to the eastward of the river Indus and westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahoul, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State.” In consideration of this transfer Golab Singh was to pay the British Government 75 lakhs of rupees, and in token of the supremacy of the British Government, was “to present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve perfect shawl-goats of approved breed (six male and six female), and three pairs of Kashmir shawls.” He further engaged “to join with the whole of his military force the British troops when em- ployed within the hills, or in the territories ad- joining his possessions”; and on their part the British Government engaged to “give its aid to Maharaja Golab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.”

Thus it was that Kashmir came under its present rulers; and surprise has often been ex- pressed that when this lovely land had actually