1856.] Narrative of the Travels of Ehwajah Ahmud Shah. 345 



rule of Maharajah Golab Singh, and the people live generally upon 

 tulhair (parched wheat and barley) which they take with black tea 

 (the latter is brought from Lassa) and ghee from Cashmere. 



"When they once put on their clothes they never take them off 

 or change them until they are worn out. They are generally of 

 black puttoo. 



The people are idolaters and worship a god designated by them 

 c ManeeS All the brothers of a family have one wife common to them. 

 They eat raw meat. Fuel for burning is scarce, and they use 

 the dung of animals for fuel. 



From Eodukh and Chantun they bring the shawl wool, which 

 is carried upon goats. From Lassa they import green tea, musk- 

 bags and judwa, (a medicine.) From Ludia they procure cloth, 

 opium, spices and leather. From Yarkund baraj, China ware, and 

 lowar (silk). 



A few Mrozas (Turquoise stones) imported from Bokhara are 

 found, used by the women as ornaments. The females go at all 

 seasons of the year with uncovered heads. 



Travellers, owing to the necessaries of life being all imported, 

 find living in the country very expensive. 



Apples and plums grow here, and the trees are principally the 

 willowand the poplar. I remained atLadakh for a montli and eighteen 

 days, awaiting the arrival of a kufilah, and arranging for the pro- 

 curement of animals for my further progress towards Yarkund. 

 Travellers are obliged to carry every thing with them, nothing 

 being procurable on the road, as it passes through an unpopulated 

 country. The hire of a horse from Ladakh to Yarkund in the 

 winter is 100 Rupees. These animals are all of the Yarkundee 

 breed, and come in hufilahs from Yarkund, loaded with goods. 

 For each auimal they have to take a double set of shoes. The 

 ordinary dress of travellers is a posteen and senabund, and coats of 

 puttoo, gloves of leather, and long felt boots, they carry with them 

 on their horses a carpet to lie upon and a blanket to cover them- 

 selves. The country is too cold for cotton clothes of any description. 



On the 7th of January I started for Yarkund, the road to which 

 is through a rocky barren country, and through defiles. In spring, 

 about the time of the equinox, it is generally very stormy, and 



* 2 z 



