DR. AITCHI90X OX THK FLORA OF LAITUL. 79 



comes of a proper consistency. The smaller skins thej carry 

 about with them, working them with their hands at all spare 

 moments, very much in the same system as that followed out by 

 young ladies with their fancy work — but, we must say, make them- 

 selves less agreeable companions for the drawing-room. Whilst 

 these skins are under preparation they give forth a most disgust- 

 ing and unbearable stench. The Lalmlees at all times are not 

 sweetly perfumed. On one occasion a Lahulee of some standing 

 in society came to visit Mr. Jaeschke, and, on his entering the 

 room, confounded Mr. J. w ith the foetor. The Lahulee, seeing that 

 the stench had been noticed, raised his hands, and showed a small 

 skin he was working at, thus apologizing for what he considered 

 but a slightly disagreeable smell. These prepared skins, in the 

 form of wallets, " Kyalpa," are largely used in their households 

 in place of boxes &c., to hold their goods and chattels. Every 

 native met with travelling has one of these skin bags under his 

 arm, containing his provisions &c. for the journey. 



Leather shoes, " Kabsha," (Pers.), made in KuUuare procured 

 by the -wealthier Lahulees ; the shoes used by the generality of the 

 people are either those made of barley-straw, " Bulla," or of 

 goats-hair, '' Babu" (Pers.), thickly felted. 



Oilsj ^^ MarnaTc.^^ — No plants yielding oil as one of their pro- 

 ducts are cultivated in Lahul. Oil lights are a luxury scarcely 

 to be met with except in the houses of the wealthy, or, indeed, 

 lights of any kind. If by chance a light be used, it \vill be 

 found to be one fed by " ghee '' (clarified butter), or torches made 

 from the resinous wood of Pimts exceha^ Wall. 



Oil is, however, extracted from the seeds of No. 51, Impatiens 



tingens^ Edgw., a common weed of the valley, but this oil is only 

 used in polishing the cups and wooden vessels that they are so 

 fond of making from tlie knots of trees. 



Fibres, — Although the Cannabis Indica and No. 314, Linum 

 perenne^ L., with a Desmodium^ are to be found in some quantity, 

 they use the fibre of none in rope-making, all their rope, string, 

 or tmne being made from hair (" Takpa ") or wool. They know 



■ 



that No. 297, Cannabis Indica^ yields a material converted by the 

 people of Kullu into rope &c. 



Tinder^^' ShrawaV — From No. 242, Cousima, sp. (unnamed), 



they collect and make their tinder; and we may say that, as "Bryant 

 and May's Patent lucifers " are unknown in these regions, the 

 flint, steel, and tinder are still the sources for obtaining fire, 

 Paper, " Shiiggu " and " Kaguz " (Hind.). — For this they gene- 



