OF THE RIVER SETLEJ. 371 



barren, and desolate spot; a few fields of corn and some apricot trees are all 

 that shew the vicinity is that of a village ; the houses are, as always described, 

 flat roofed, being- covered with earth. From Murang, we had heard nothing 

 but the Tartar language; here it was in perfection, yet strange to say, theSe- 

 3 ana or head-mans name was JBaltram. In appearance he was a complete 

 Tartar, and though it is true he spoke Hindustani (for he acted as our in- 

 terpreter,) yet it was most barbarously, and with a peculiar accent. He had 

 been a great traveller, and we found him very communicative ; we deter- 

 mined, as he was the only person we could find capable of acting as an in- 

 terpreter, to make him accompany us to Shipki ; he told us that they trade 

 with Shipki, Meyang and Chaprang, for salt and wool; that Chaprang is 

 nine days journey from Shipki and Mansarowar twenty ; on horseback, 

 however, the former journey is performed in four or five days, and the latter 

 in twelve. Meyang is two days journey from Shipki, the Setlej being left 

 to the right; few mountains about it, and a little beyond it is plain country. 

 The country beyond Shipki is called, by the Kanawaris, Jung, by the Tar- 

 tars, Galdang Paprang ; beyond it is Kamling, and then Gehna. 



Latsa is the residence of two officers of the Emperor of China, who re- 

 ceive the revenue ; none of which goes to the grand Lama at Teshu Lom- 

 bu ; he is rather a priest than a raja or ruler, but in the former character 

 he has great influence. Teshu Lonibii is three months, and Latsa four 

 months journey from Shipki. 



In the evening we were much amused with a dance to which these peo- 

 ple invited us. 1 say dance rather than nach, for to the latter it had not the 

 slightest resemblance. On this occasion, the performers were all women, 

 but the munshi who accompanied us, and who had before visited the place, 

 4.old ns the men frequently bore their part. They stood in a semicircle on 

 one side of the room joining hands, and all singing in chorus, and kept time 

 Jo their song, by swinging from one side to the other with one accord; there 



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