National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

an operation with which the natives in the hill-countries are but little conversant; by using copper vessels exclusively the danger of the formation of verdigris is very great, if the vessels be not kept unusually clean.

TRANSPORT OF LUGGAGE.

Packing. All provisions and articles liable to be damaged by becoming wet should be packed as securely as possible; for even in Tibet, where there is generally very little to be feared from rain, the fording of rivers may be very detrimental to them.

' , Each of the various packages should be arranged so as to enable one kûli to carry it even over difficult and dangerous ground.

Means of Conveyance. The traveller's luggage is carried in the Himalaya almost exclusively by kûlis; in some of the higher valleys by jhnbus (a cross-breed between the yak and the. Indian bullock); in Tibet by horses, yaks, and asses; ` and in Turkistcin and Central Asia by horses or camels. Kûlis cannot be hired at all in the last-named countries, and can only be obtained with difficulty in some provinces of Tibet, especially in Gnari Khôrsum.

A traveller in the Himalaya who intends making slow stages or frequent halts would do best to engage the necessary number of kalis for a long period. He will have to pay his kûlis, on an average, three anas a day when marching, and two anas on a rest-day, though these prices vary in different provinces. The wages of kalis are highest in the environs of Simla, Nainital, and Mâssûri; lowest in the higher valleys of Gârhval. On no account should an agreement be entered into to provide either the kâlis or the personal servants with food, this being a source of endless quarrelling and vexation; for although the food provided may be of the best quality, and the most liberal allowance be made, the people will never be satisfied, but will invariably annoy their master with groundless and interminable complaints, which it will be beyond his power to remedy. Whenever any party requires a larger number of Wills, the services of a tindal or pâtvari, who acts as superintendent, should be secured, and care be taken to provide some "chaprass" (belts with engraved plates); in case of

' Asses are reckoned to carry about a küli load; these animals are not very numerous.