Across the Roof of the. World. 



The passes to the east of the Hunza, or Kanjut Valley lead into 

 the Raskiim Daria, and on to the great highway of trade between 

 Ladakh and Chinese Turkistan. In former days raids on caravans 

 using this route were of frequent occurrence, and formed the main 

 source of income to the rulers and people of Hunza. The Kan- 

 jutis, taking full advantage of the inaccessible nature of their 

 mountain fastnesses, would cross into the Raskum Valley, rob 

 passing caravans, and dispose of the captives as slaves to the 



"the hunza valley is shut in by gigantic mountains." 



Chinese. The natural consequence of these raids was that entire 

 valleys on the Turkistan side were depopulated, and the name 

 of Kanjut became a byword amongst travellers. This state of 

 affairs terminated with the subjugation of Hunza brought about 

 by the expedition of 1891. 



The Kanjutis are much akin to the Chitralis, being a line race 

 of people with fair complexions. They are splendid mountaineers, 



44 



