1839.] Journal of a trip through Kunawur. 905 



tars of Hungrung, of Spiti, of Ludak and Chinese Tartary, with the 

 inhabitants of Kunawur, of the lower hills and plains, and sometimes 

 also with those of Europe. 



Among these different tribes little or perhaps no money is exchang- 

 ed, but the dealer in tobacco or grain offers to the seller of wool or 

 woollen cloths an equivalent quantity of merchandise for that which 

 he requires, and thus in a very short time the produce of either coun- 

 try or district has changed masters. 



The greatest good humour and mirth prevails at this periodical 

 " gathering of the clans," and few quarrels occur. Should two dealers 

 however happen to fall out, or, as sometimes occurs, should the wine 

 cup have been used too freely and broken heads ensue, the Rajah 

 levies on the disturbers of the peace a fine according to the circum- 

 stances of the delinquents, which is paid in anything they may pos- 

 sess, whether money, sheep, or merchandise. 



At this season the articles brought into the market from the upper 

 hills, are blankets and sooklat from Lubrung, Khanum, Soongnum, 

 and other places in upper Kunawur ; — raisins, neozas, cummin seed, 

 sheep, goats, and ghee from the lower parts ; — chowrees, birmore, 

 pushm wool, byangee wool, silver and gold dust in small quantities, 

 borax and salt, numdahs, &c, from Ludak and different parts of Tar- 

 tary. 



These are exchanged for opium, celestial barley and wheat, tobacco, 

 iron, butter, ghee, treacle or ghoor, linen cloths, brass pots, &c. all 

 of which meet with a ready and profitable sale in the upper parts 

 of the country. 



Within the last three or four years, the traders from Ludak have 

 purchased opium, which they did not take previously. Ghee is not 

 purchased for Ludak orTartary, but butter is taken instead, and forms 

 a great ingredient in the mess, which they make of tea and flour, and 

 which forms their food, as the chupattee or bannock does that of the 

 low country people. It is purchased at Rampore at about eight seers 

 for the rupee, and sells again in Tartary at four and five seers, so that 

 cent per cent is no uncommon profit on this one article. Tobacco is 

 also in great demand, and always brings a good profit to the trader. 



Of the different articles manufactured in the upper parts, I shall 

 again have occasion to revert in speaking of the several places where 

 they are made, and I shall therefore pass on to the Rajah and his 

 court, ere I take leave of the capital, and plunge into the woods and 

 forests of Runawur. The Rajah is an ugly, common looking fellow, 

 of about thirty years of age, and is of the Chuttree caste of Hindoos. 



