492 Journal of a trip through Kunawur, tyc. [No. 101. 



About half way between our last encampment and the village of 

 Larree, to which we were journeying, stands Soomra, situated on the 

 right bank of the river, and within the district of Hungrung ; it is 

 built on one of the accumulations of alluvion so often alluded to ; 

 and in which the valley abounds. 



Many of its fields are now uncultivated, and the village itself, though 

 appearing to possess many houses, is occupied by three families only, 

 each consisting of from six to eight souls. There were lately two other 

 families residing here, but they could not rear sufficient to recompense 

 them for their labour, and have emigrated to some other place. 



Near this we fell in with a large flock of beautiful sheep from 

 Choomoortee, which was travelling to Dunkur for grain. The sheep 

 are driven from village to village with the wool on, and as the required 

 quantity is cut from their backs, they are laden with the grain which 

 is received in exchange ; and which, when the fleece is all disposed of, 

 is carried up into Chinese Tartary and sold at a profitable rate. 



The wool of the Choomoortee breed is very fine, and much longer 

 than that of the low country sheep ; it is therefore in much repute, and 

 purchased for the purpose of making birmore, sooklat, and blankets. 



The wool called " pushm," from which shawls and pushmeenas 

 (shawl stuffs) are made, is entirely obtained from a breed of goats re- 

 sembling those to which the name of " Cashmere," has been applied ; 

 they are often four or five horned, and do not thrive below Pooee and 

 Soongnum in Kunawur, both because they are unable to bear any de- 

 gree of heat, and on account of the humidity of the lower climates. 

 Their true habitat is in the higher and remoter regions of Chinese Tar- 

 tary, where they attain to their greatest perfection. 



The pushm is a remarkably fine wool, very silky and soft to the 

 feel, and grows at the roots of the long hair with which the animal is 

 clothed. It is obtained in the summer months by shearing the goats, 

 in the same manner as sheep, and afterwards separated from the hair, 

 which is not thrown away, but reserved for the purpose of making 

 ropes, as hemp is unknown in these higher tracts. This wool is after- 

 wards brought to the lower hills for sale, and forms one of the chief 

 exports from Tartary. The pushmeenas, which are manufactured from 

 it, are chiefly from Rampore and Cashmere. 



The skins of this breed are also used by the Tartars as an article of 

 dress for the winter, and form with their long hair and thick pushm, a 



