The Rashīdī History 212.6

212.6

Now the inhabitants of Tibet are divided into two sections. One is called the Yulpa — that is to say, 'dwellers in villages,' and the other the Champa, meaning 'dwellers in the desert.' But these last are always subject to one of the provinces of Tibet. The inhabitants of the desert [nomads] of Tibet have certain strange practices, which are to be met with among no other people. Firstly, they eat their meat and all other foods in an absolutely raw state, having no knowledge of cooking. Again, they feed their horses on flesh instead of grain. They also use sheep exclusively, as beasts of burden. Their sheep carry, perhaps, twelve statute man. They harness them with pack-saddles, halters, and girths; they place the load upon the sheep, and except when necessary, never take it off, so that summer and winter it remains on the animal's back. The Champa, or nomads, live in the following manner. In the winter they descend towards the western and southern slopes of the aforesaid mountains — that is to say, to Hindustan — taking with them wares of Khitai, salt, cloth of goats' hair [tamar'kar], zedoary, kutas [yaks], gold, and shawls, which are Tibetan goods. They trade in Hindustan and in the mountains of Hindustan, and in the spring they return from that country, bringing many of its products, such as cloths, sweets, rice, and grain, loaded upon their sheep. After feeding their flocks, they advance slowly but continuously into Khitai, which they reach in the winter.