ABORS AND GALONGS. 5 



Mimats were said to come as far down the river as Panggo but without crossing 

 over to the left bank. In connexion with the tales about the Mimats already alluded 

 to, the Tibetan version given by Tugden is of interest. The I y oteus are reported to 

 bury their dead l (like the Abors) or throw them into the river (following the custom of 

 the Tibetan peasantry). The Lobas further south are supposed to eat their dead (one 

 account was more explicit and said their parents) , a rite or custom known to exist 

 in other places, and found nearest home by S. Jerome, in about a.d. 360, amongst 

 the British tribe of Attecots. My informant heard this when he was at Tsari, from 

 Tibetans, who said that they had seen a cannibal feast in progress, on the occasion of 

 their Twelfth Year pilgrimage. They called the cannibals Mishu Ting Ba. With the 

 Boreads and Unipeds, the Basin and Mimats, mankind, from the days of Pytheas, has 

 peopled the unknown Beyond. 



Rindze, a Kamba of Nyarong, which is a little to the north of Chiamdo, was the 

 most satisfactory witness examined ; many of his statements have met with corro- 

 boration from other sources, or are borne out by previously recorded information. 

 His evidence bore the stamp of truth and he did not appear to fabricate a story to cover 

 forgetfulness or ignorance but frankly owned up when he had forgotten or did not 

 actually know. The following account given by Rindze of Tsari, which he visited 

 from Gyala Sindang, would not only definitely fix the Tibeto-l,o frontier, but would 

 show that Tibetans do not penetrate south into the Abor country from Tsari, but leave 

 such adventures to travellers in the Tsan-po valley away to the east. 2 



On the 9th stage from Gyala Sindang the route ascends from Droma Lhakang 

 monastery (and the dzong near it) up a shoulder of Tsari to the Trema pass. On this 

 there is no snow, but the peak itself is covered with snow and wrapped in cloud. The 

 top of the Trema-la is the boundary between Tibet and the Iyoba country. To carry 

 out the Tsari pilgrimage, the devout traveller must go round the mountain, a four days' 

 progress, involving a two days' journey through Iyoba country. The sacred way runs 

 high up on the mountain side and does not dip into the valley below. Rindze stated 

 that he went with about 200 other pilgrims and that they were attacked on the south 

 side of Tsari by a band of Loba robbers, armed with bows and arrows and long swords. 

 They had no guns and did not apparently use spears, but they discharged volleys of 

 stones on to the pilgrims, who lost 7 killed during the encounter, others dying after- 

 wards of their wounds and injuries. These volleys of stones sound remarkably like 

 that prominent feature of Abor tactics, the stone-shoot. The Iyobas were described 

 as wearing sleeveless skin coats that came down to their knees ; they wore their hair 

 long, over their shoulders, but cut a straight fringe across their foreheads. Their 

 women were not, of course, with them. According to Rindze, trading at Tsari is 

 conducted on the simple plan pursued by the old Rhine Barons in their commercial 

 transactions with the merchants of Central Europe. The Tibetans are terrified of the 



1 See Buddhism of Tibet by L. A. Waddell ed. 1895, p. 518. 



* It has been found that the Tibetans habitually bring their yaks over the passes to feed on the high ground on the 

 southern slopes. These side valleys running up to the passes are not inhabited and the roads (such as they are) have 

 to be cut, and the bridges and galleries repaired, every year before the routes are used. The busy season is July and 

 August. Membas occasionally come down as far as Panggo on the right bank. They are more chary of adventuring 

 down the left bank, but have been known to visit Simong. 



