July 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



TRADE OF CENTRAL ASIA. 553 



The rest of the shepherd's equipment is carried about his person, as his 

 teacup, pipe, tobacco pouch, chakmak, or flint and tinder, knives, and 

 a small spoon, with several needles."* 



The home manufactures of Ladakh consist of coarse blankets and 

 woollens, and of black mohair tents, from the hair of yaks. But Le is 

 also the entrep6t of a considerable trade between the countries around 

 it. Shawl wool of the finest sort is now imported from Yarkand, as 

 well as Chanthan. Brick tea, in square lumps of 81bs. weight, is brought 

 by caravans from L'hassa. Borax, received from Puga, is refined at 

 Kulu and Chamba, and bought by the silversmiths and braziers from 

 the plains ; sulphur and black salt are imported from Chan-than ; 

 charas, tobacco, felts, steel, Russiin leather, brocades, and boots from 

 Yarkand ; opium and red goat-skins pass through from the British ter- 

 ritory to Yarkand ; shawls and saffron from Kashmir ; chintzes and 

 copper tinned vessels from the Punjab. 



The people of the north are active traders, proceeding to Le for 

 charas, and to Gardokh for shawl wool, giving in exchange money, 

 clothes, and spices. The mountain paths are scarcely practicable for 

 laden mules, and merchandise is carried chiefly on the backs of sheep 

 and goats. An annual fair is held in November at the capital, Ranrpur, 

 on the Sutlej. The town is of some importance, as the point where the 

 commercial routes from Le, Gardokh, and Simla meet, and also as a seat 

 of the pashmina manufacture. In 1840 the value of pashm imported 

 was valued by Cunningham at about 90,000 rupees. 



The Government agency established at Kotgurh in 1820 was in- 

 tended to encourage the export of shawl wool to the British territory, 

 whence it was sent to England to be manufactured. In exchange, small 

 quantities of copper, steel, chintzes, and woollens were bartered. The 

 project did not succeed, and was abandoned. Since that time extensive 

 manufactories have arisen in the Punjab itself, and compete with those 

 of Kashmir for the supply of pashm. 



Silk is produced in the western parts of the country, and great 

 quantities are exported from Bukhara for the Indian markets. 



Wool obtained from the fat-tailed variety of sheep is used in the 

 manufacture of cloths and carpets, and also exported to India. Kilat 

 and the surrounding country produces sheep's wool in great abundance. 

 It is a remark of Burnes " that our early commercial connexion with 

 the countries on the Indus was sought to find vent for British woollens, 

 while the existing trade is almost confined to cottons ; and this is the 

 more singular, as there is good reason to believe that in return for those 

 cottons we shall shortly receive raw wool from the countries of the 

 Indus." This anticipation has now been completely fulfilled. 



At different times colonies of Kashmiris have emigrated and settled 

 in the British dominions, where they pursue the manufacture of 



* Moorcroft, Vol. II., pp. 46-48. 

 VOL. IV. 3 B 



