1840.] Journal of a trip through Kunawur, fyc. 573 



autumn and winter seasons. From their yellow colour and farinaceous 

 nature, they would seem to approach the Swedish species ; some care is 

 bestowed upon their cultivation, as if sown thickly, they have not 

 room to swell, and consequently are of small size ; — in order to increase 

 their growth, the fields are thinned and the turnips planted at some 

 distance from each other, by which means they come to perfection, and 

 are dug in October. Besides forming part of the food of the people, 

 they are also given to cattle during the winter. 



The beans have all the appearance of the common European garden 

 vegetable, and are used when ripe to feed cattle, or are ground into 

 floor, and eaten by the people. 



From the situation of Soongnum, between the high passes, and the 

 direction of the valley, a strong wind generally prevails during the 

 greater part of the day, and retards in some measure the advance of 

 vegetation, which is here far less vigorous and forward than at the 

 Tartar villages of Hungo, Leeo, and Chungo, the first and last of 

 which, although at a greater elevation, are not so much exposed as 

 Soongnum. 



The manufactures here are blankets and sooklat, which are export- 

 ed to the Rampore fair, where the former sell according to the quality, 

 from three to five rupees each, and the latter at about four rupees 

 eight annas, to six and seven rupees per pair. The latter article is, 

 however, principally exported from Khanum and Labrung, and its 

 quality is somewhat better than that of Soongnum. 



There is a large Takoordwara, or Lama temple, in the upper part of 

 the towii, to which light is admitted by two apertures in the roof, 

 which are protected from the weather by conical roofs of cedar wood, 

 somewhat after the Chinese style. 



About half a mile farther up the glen is another and larger temple 

 of the same description, and near it are the huts where the " nuns," as 

 Gerard has termed them, reside during the winter season. 



These nuns are strictly speaking female Lamas, or priestesses, and 

 are called " Jummoo." They are forbidden to marry, and usually 

 wear garments of red stuff. 



Some are dispersed during the summer mouths, and attend upon 

 the different temples throughout the district, reading the sacred books, 

 and performing religious ceremonies like the Lamas ; others are occu- 



