A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



goods in this common mart. But of the trade 

 that passes through Leh we will speak later. At this 

 time but comparatively few merchants had arrived, 

 and I did not see the picturesque bustle of this 

 centre of commerce until my return journey, when 

 the town was full of life and local colour. The 

 town is dominated by a palace (the residence of 

 the Gyalpo, or ruling race in times gone by), and 

 the inevitable Gonpa, Lamaserai, or monastery, as 

 we should translate it. The palace is a huge 

 barrack-like erection, standing on a commanding 

 spur, and presents that curious form of building, 

 so common in Ladakh, which slopes inward from 

 the foundations, and reminds one somewhat in 

 shape of the " pylon " of an Egyptian Temple. 



The Gonpa is apparently very similar to other 

 " Gonpas" in this grotesque land, being painted red 

 and white, and ornamented with many yak's tails 

 on poles, and rags on strings, floating in the breeze. 

 The main bazaar is a long and fairly broad street, 

 with open shops on either side, where the merchants 

 of many nationalities ply their trade, and is planted 

 with rows of poplars, each one of which is fenced 

 round with a curious open-work brick erection. 

 The Serai, where the Yarkandi caravans are en- 

 camped with their herds of ponies and yaks, is well 

 worth a visit, as also is the Wazir Wazarat's house, 

 which stands in a well-planted "bagicha," or garden. 

 Behind and beyond the main bazaar are the narrow 

 and tortuous lanes of the town, while farther west 



