THE TECHNOLOGIST. [July 1, 1864. 



554 TRADE OF CENTRAL ASIA. 



shawls. They are to be found in considerable numbers at Amritsar 

 and Nurpur, as well as at Lndianah, Tiloknath, and Jalalpur ; but the 

 shawls made at these places are inferior to those of Kashmir. The 

 value of shawls sold at the annual auction in London is reported to 

 have risen from 103,000?. in 1850 to 264,586Z. in 1860. A temporary 

 depression has resulted from increased production, repetition of the same 

 patterns, and inferior work. 



The interests of the Maharaja and his manufacturers are identified 

 in the endeavour to retain the monopoly of the shawl-wool ; conse- 

 quently none of the Turfani wool from Yarkand, which is the finest, is 

 allowed to pass into British territory, which is entirely supplied from 

 Chan-than. 



It is probable that on the whole the demand for shawl-wool has of 

 late years much increased. Native accounts represent that the use of 

 the Turfani wool has arisen within the last quarter of a century. It is 

 evidently of the highest importance that the supply of the raw material 

 of the exquisite manufacture peculiar to Kashmir and the Punjab should 

 be effectually facilitated and protected. There is no doubt that it is 

 inexhaustible ; and it is impossible not to admire the felicitous conjunc- 

 tion in the same region of a natural product so valuable and of work- 

 men so artistic. 



The shawl-goat thrives in Spiti, though the wool is not reckoned 

 equal to that of Chan-than. The Maharaja was, in 1847, excused from 

 rendering shawl-goats under the stipulation of the treaty, in consequence 

 of the animals dying at Dhurmsala, where they were kept. It is appre- 

 hended that sufficient pasturage for any large number could not be found 

 in Spiti. 



The mountain paths between Kampur and Spiti are so precipitous 

 that sheep, more sure-footed than larger beasts, are commonly used to 

 carry burthens of from 16 to 20 lbs. " The sheep are driven from 

 village to village with the woolen, and as the required quantity is cut 

 from their backs, they are laden with the grain which is received in 

 exchange, and which, when the fleece is all disposed of, is carried into 

 Chinese Tartary and sold at a profitable rate." * " It is the custom for 

 the shepherds of Chumurti to give an order while the crops are yet 

 green, and on the ground, for any amount of grain they may require, 

 which, when the crop is ripe, is stored up by the cultivator until the 

 summer of the ensuing year, when the shepherd arrives with his flock, 

 gives the wool in exchange, and receives his grain, which he puts into 

 small bags, and drives back his flock thus laden." f " Many of these 

 sheep were formerly purchased by the British Government, by an agent 

 appointed for that purpose at Kotguih, but the speculation was aban- 



* "Journal of a Trip into Kunawur," by Captain Hutton. 'Journal Asiatic 

 Society,' Part I., p. 192. 

 | Ibid. p. 498. 



