The gates were removed to India in the end of 1842. The
"Sikh Empire" practically collapsed with the murder of Sher Singh in
September, 1843.
It is not probable that there was any real connection between these
Gates, of Saracenic design, carved (it is said) in Himalayan cedar, and
the Temple of Somnath. But tradition did ascribe to them such a
connection, and the eccentric prank of a clever man in high place made
this widely known. Nor in any case can we regard as alien to the scope of
this book the illustration of a work of mediaeval Asiatic art, which is
quite as remarkable for its own character and indisputable history, as for
the questionable origin ascribed to it. (Tod's Travels, 385, 504;
Burgess, Visit to Somnath, etc.; Jacob's Report on Kattywar, p. 18;
Gildemeister, 185; Dowson's Elliot, II. 468 seqq.; Asiatic
Journal, 3rd series, vol. I.).
[1] So in Elliot, II. 74. But Jacob says there is an inscription of
a Mussulman Governor in Pattan of 1297.
CHAPTER XXX.
CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF KESMACORAN.
Kesmacoran is a kingdom having a king of its own and a peculiar language.
[Some of] the people are Idolaters, [but the most part are Saracens]. They
live by merchandize and industry, for they are professed traders, and
carry on much traffic by sea and land in all directions.
