82 DR, AITCHISON ON THE FLOEA OF LAHUL. 



HippopTiae vTiamnoides^ L., from its wood being harder than any 

 other obtainable in Lahul. 



Utensils. — [From the wood of No. 284, Salix^ species, they 

 make pails and wooden vessels of all sizes, cut out roughly from 

 the block ; these vessels are usually heavy, clumsy, and very 

 shapeless. 



Fences 



Hip'popli 



are very extensively used in forming fences for fields, &c. ; the 

 use of hedges is unknown. The above is the only good material, 

 that grows in Lahul, that is capable of preventing the inroads of 

 cattle into the fields. 



Superstitions. — The Lahulees have some superstitious notions 

 relative to No. 281, Fopulus balsamifera, L. Of this there is one 

 large tree near Kyelang, at which yearly a children's festival is 

 held. It is considered to be the seat of the " Dewa'* (or god) 

 of children, and hence these trees are never cut down. 



The plants of No. 244, Cirsium argyracantliumj DC, are, when 

 the corn fields are shorn, left standing as amulets to protect 

 the field. Twigs of No. 283, Juniperus excelsa, are used by the 

 priests in several religious ceremonies. 



Fodder, " Z^cAe/'— What with the stacking of the straw of bar- 

 ley, and the profusion of the grasses throughout the summer, 

 there can be scarely any want of fodder for cattle. Here, again, 

 the indolence of the inhabitants causes them to sufier greatly, as 

 they scarely ever stack for winter*s use a sufficiency for their 

 cattle, trusting entirely to an early spring. A long winter creates 

 great loss amongst the cattle, and the poor starving animals may 

 be seen going about searching vainly for food, turning up the 

 snow with their horns, and eating nearly anything they can find, 

 as the remnants of old straw-shoes, rags, &c., with evident gusto. 

 In the early spring the young shoots and leaves of No. 284, 

 SaJix^ species, are extensively used, and collected for fodder for 

 the cattle chiefly just before the grass begins to spring. But at 

 any time, indeed, the cattle will eat this willow, which, as already 

 stated, is largely cultivated round the villages. The natives store 

 up but little fodder, and that strictly for winter consumption- 

 During autumn, after the crops are removed from the fields, and 

 nearly all grass is dried up, the cattle may be seen moving over 

 the fields searching diligently for anything in the shape of fooa ; 

 and until the snow falls, these poor brutes have to do their best 

 to procure food for themselves. Their owners on no account wu^ 

 give them of the stacked fodder at this time ; but immediately 



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