OF THE RIVER SETLEJ. 375 



after much debate, they declared that, though averse to our attempting such 

 a measure without permission from the interior, yet they would not oppose 

 our progress if we chose to insist upon it. They however proposed, that 

 we should write to the Deba at Gam, and halt five days for his answer ; 

 that during those five days they would furnish us with provisions gratis, if 

 we chose to decline paying for them, and that we should be bound by the 

 answer either to proceed or return. To this proposal we willingly agreed, 

 and two letters were written to the Deba requesting an interview, and of- 

 fering some presents. This letter was immediately dispatched by express. 

 We were given to understand it would be conveyed by horsemen, reliefs of 

 whom, were stationed at each village. 



This discussion had assembled the whole village in or about our tents, 

 and we took advantage of the opportunity to put a few questions to them. 

 Bali Ram Seyana, of Namja, was our interpreter, and he was assisted by 

 a munshi who understood a little of the Tartar language; they were SO/ 

 exceedingly curious however themselves as to all they saw about us, that 

 they would much rather have asked us questions than answered those we 

 put to them. Amongst other things we learned the following particulars; 

 Gam is the grand mart where the productions of Hindustan, of China, 

 and of Ladak, are collected. There is no town, the people living in tents. 

 There are two stations, the Winter and the Summer, which are two days 

 journey distant for a horseman ; the distance occupies seven or eight days 

 on foot. The Deba alone has a house, but he has also his tent pitched 

 on the top of it ; it is made of coarse cotton cloth, as are also those of 

 the principal Beaparis, but those of the Tartar Goatherds are formed of 

 a blackish stuff, manufactured from the hair of the yak. At Garu, little 

 shawl wool is produced, but beyond Mansarower the flocks are numerous, 

 Tangshung and Meyshung are the names of the places from which the 

 greatest quantity is to be had. It is all brought in the first instance to 

 Garu, whence the Ladak traders carry it away to Cashmir. It appears that 

 an arrangement has always subsisted between the Latakis and the officer at 



