1 178 Visit to Melum and the Oonta [No. 132. 



Picked up on the top of the Pass various specimens of Saligrams, 

 which had been left as offerings by the Bhoteeas and others on their 

 way to and fro. A little rain fell in the afternoon, and it continued very 

 cloudy the whole evening. Fell in with a party from the neighbour- 

 hood of Loah Thull, carrying up grain, &c. for sale. They say they 

 receive a measure of salt for one of rice. On enquiring of two Bho- 

 teea lads of the village of Luspa, who were with me, learnt that the 

 usual rate of exchange throughout all the villages in Upper Jowahir, 

 (or Bhote as some call it,) is one measure (or quoin) of rice, two of 

 wheat, three of attah, and three of barley for one of salt. Now we pur- 

 chased the latter articles at the rate of sixteen seers of eighty-four 

 sicca weight for one rupee. 



5th October Marched at 7h. 10m. a. m., and arrived at the village 



of Jult, the residence of the Bhoteeas in Milum in Munsaree ; the ascent 

 from the river is very steep and rocky, and not rideable for more than a 

 few hundred yards. Arrived at the village at lOh. 1 5m. a. m. It con- 

 tains some of the best houses I have seen,* much superior to those at 

 Milum, or in any of the villages in Upper Juwahir. The people here 

 when we were encamped at Kantee, about one and half mile off on 

 our way up, refused to give us any supplies or coolees, and said they 

 would not obey a dozen purwanahs of the Judge's, should he send them, 

 which was the cause of our now encamping at this village, which is 

 somewhat out of our way. The day since noon has been cloudy, and 

 some heavy showers of rain have fallen. Passed within the distance 

 of a mile this morning about 700 sheep and goats on their way to 

 Milum, and I suppose as many more passed me before I commenced 

 counting. The sheep used for carriage are bred in Dhanpoor and 

 Gurhwal, and are small. The large Tartar sheep is not so employed, not 

 being capable, I imagine, of bearing the heat ; for I have observed 

 that a flock of these sheep we have with me, during the last two days, 

 appear to suffer very much from the change of temperature. 



6th October. — (Jult.) A halt, time llh. 35m. a. m., barometer 

 24.065, air 72°, mercury 72°, moist ther. 63°. 



* Jult, Gorpata, Looring, Duratee, &c. contain not only the best houses in Ju- 

 wahir, but excel in size and appearance the greater part of the Almorah houses, and 

 are decidedly the most substantial and handsome villages in the whole hills from the 

 Sutlej to the Kalee. The wood- work and the masonry are both admirably carved in 

 the principal bouses.— J. H. B. 



