1840.] Journal of a trip through Kunawur, fyc. 569 



same habits, and similar to the common chough in ail, save the bill, 

 which is much shorter, and of a bright yellow colour, instead of the 

 rich orange of the Cornish chough. The legs are similar in both. 

 They appeared to keep apart from the other species, and were most 

 abundant where the former were fewest. Dunkur and the upper parts of 

 the valley seemed to be their proper habitat. It is in all probability 

 a known species, and comes I think into Cuvier's genus " Fregilus." 



As the winter approaches, both flocks and herds are again driven 

 down to the villages, where they are fed on fodder, which has 

 been stored up for them during summer. This consists in a great 

 measure of the tender shoots of a shrub, which grows over the hills, 

 especially in Hungrung, and the upper portions of Kunawur, in 

 great abundance. It is common wormwood, and possesses the pleasant 

 smell of the southern-wood of England, which is I believe the 

 same plant, or a closely allied species ; where this shrub occurs in great 

 abundance the air is often scented with it, and if trodden under foot 

 the smell is both powerful and pleasant. 



In the season when the men are on the mountains with the flocks, 

 or carrying grain to those parts of Chinese Tartary where little or 

 none is produced, the care of the crops around their villages devolves 

 almost entirely upon the women, who are seen early and late through- 

 out the day, weeding and irrigating their fields. 



The chief produce of Spiti is common, celestial, and beardless barley, 

 (nunga jow of natives) wheat, beans, peas, and phuppra, which are pro- 

 duced in some abundance in the lower parts of the valley from 

 Dunkur downwards. 



Dunkur is the chief mart for grain, and has a goodly patch of culti- 

 vation around it. 



Birmore, a thick kind of woollen cloth, somewhat of the texture of a 

 blanket, is made in this district of the wool which is received from the 

 Choomoortee and Thibetan shepherds. The cloth is made in pieces of 

 about eighteen inches wide, and varying in length from six to twelve 

 yards, and has some resemblance to the thick woollens of which box 

 coats are made in England. These pieces are sold generally in pairs, 

 at five to seven rupees, according to the quality and size. 



Though yaks are plentiful through this district, no chowrees are 

 procurable, as the people neglect the tails of the animals, the long hair 



