2o8 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



enjoying a monopoly of the trade between this part of China 

 and Thibet. The value of the trade is estimated at about one 

 and three-quarter million taels. The Thibetans bring in musk, 

 wool, deer horns, skins, gold-dust, and various medicines, and 

 take in exchange brick tea and miscellaneous sundries. The 

 trade is largely one of barter, but much less so than that of 

 Sungpan Ting. Sycee and Indian rupees were formerly the 

 only coinage current, but the Chinese during the last few years 

 have been minting in Chengtu a rupee of their own for the 

 special purposes of this trade-centre. Its use has been insisted 

 upon, and, in consequence, the Indian coin has been ousted from 

 the field. Most of the " bigger " trade is in the hands of the 

 lamaseries on the one hand, and Chinese from the province of 

 Shensi on the other. About 30 li to the north-east of Tachienlu 

 gold is found at an altitude of about 11,000 feet, and placer- 

 mining is carried on there. The gold-washing is done in exactly 

 the same way as elsewhere in Western China, but the method 

 of paying the miners is peculiar, — the arrangement being six 

 baskets for the owner of the mine and a seventh for the miners. 

 Silver also occurs at this same place. The Thibetans hold the 

 view that gold and other precious metals grow, and that their 

 death may result if too much is removed at any one time. 

 How far they actually believe in this superstition is a moot 

 point, but at times it serves as an unanswerable argument. 

 Nine years ago a difference of opinion in the matter of assessing 

 the profits arose between the Chief of Chiala, owner of the 

 mine, and the head Chinese official at Tachienlu, who was 

 apparently over-avaricious in the matter. The Chief very 

 quietly advanced the above theory, and closed down the mines 

 for an indefinite period ! Gold in great quantity occurs in 

 the state of Litang, west of Tachienlu ; much also is mined 

 around Th'ai-ling to the north of this town. 



Being on the great highway from Peking via Chengtu to 

 Lhassa, officials are constantly passing through Tachienlu, and 

 the political importance of the town is very great. Although 

 only a city of the second class the head Chinese official has the 

 local rank of Prefect (Chiung-Liang Fu), and holds the post of 

 commissary for the Chinese troops stationed in Thibet. Al- 

 though Batang, 18 days' journey westwards, is more accurately 



