SRINAGAR CITY 53

The sixth and most of the other bridges of Srinagar are built up on piers of crossed horizontal logs of wood. ‘They occupy much of the river way, but are very distinctive, and harmonise most pictur- esquely with the wooden houses of the city. They were all crowded with people, And on the banks near one bridge were assembled many hundreds of school-boys carrying small flags, which they waved as the Maharaja passed, and shouted “ ep, eep, ra! Eep, eep, ra!” continuously for many minutes in imitation of the British cheer. Mottoes of welcome were stretched across the houses in places, some invoking long life for the King-Emperor, and others expressing loyal wishes for the Maharaja. Between the third and fourth bridges are the shops of most of the chief bankers and merchants, big, handsome, picturesque buildings of small bricks and wood- work, with semicircular balconies jutting out over the river an@ pretty carved and _ lattice-work windows. Near the third bridge is the fine Shah Hamadan mosque of an almost Norwegian type of architecture, built. of wood. with a tall taper spire and handsome ornaments hanging from the eaves. Beyond the third bridge is the chief Hindu temple, of quite a different order of architecture, built

of stone, and, like the whole embankment of 4a