( 488 )
At the time the Mission was leaving Yarkand, the opinion of the Dadkhwah Mahomed Yunus on this point was decided ; he expressed himself to the effect that if a regular fair were established at Leh, many merchants from Yarkand who had not yet engaged in trade with India would be attracted across the Karakorum.
The only difficulty likely to arise is that of supply : it is a question whether the grain produce of Ladakh is sufficient to maintain a large assemblage of men and horses, besides its own population during the time the fair would require to be kept up.
There is however much uncultivated ground in the district of Ladakh which might be utilised, and the requirements of the fair would draw in grain from Dras and Kargil Skardo and more distant valleys. The opinions of the Joint Commissioners of Ladakh are in favor of the establishment of a fair such as is proposed, and there is every reason to suppose that the measure would be generally popular with the trade.
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