[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Kashmir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir) › [Tārīkh-i Rashīdī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi) › [The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross) › 212 # The Rashīdī History 212: DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION, MOUNTAINS, AND PLAINS OF TIBET, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND RELIGION OF THE INHABITANTS. The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 212 - **Language:** English ### DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION, MOUNTAINS, AND PLAINS OF TIBET, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND RELIGION OF THE INHABITANTS. ### [212.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.1) Tibet is a long \[and narrow\] country. From Bikan Bain, which means "between the north and the west," towards Bakani, which is "between the south and the east," is eight months' journey. Its breadth is \[nowhere\] more than one month's journey, nor less than ten days. Its frontier on the side of Bikan Bain, adjoins Baluristan (as was stated above, in the description of Balur); that on the Bakani side, touches Huchu Salar, which is a dependency of \[what is called\] Kanjanfu of Khitai. In the description of the mountains of Moghulistan and Kashghar, it was stated that the principal range in Moghulistan, from which all the other hills branch out, passes the north of Kashghar, runs towards the west, and continues to the south of Kashghar. It was also mentioned that the province of Farghana lies to the west of Kashghar, this range running between. \[This part of the range\] which lies between Kashghar and Farghana is called Alai. ### [212.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.2) Badakhshan is on the west of Yarkand. These countries are also divided by \[a part of\] this same range, which here takes the name of Pamir. The width of the Pamir, in some places, is eight days' journey. Passing onwards, one comes to some of the Yarkand mountains which adjoin Balur, such as Raskam and Tagh Dum Bash; proceeding yet further, one arrives in the land of Tibet. Badakhshan is in the direction of summer sunset (tahistani) from Yarkand, as stated above, and Kashmir is in the direction of winter sunset (zamistani) from Yarkand. That same range runs between Yarkand and Kashmir, and is here called Balti; this \[district\] belongs to the province of Tibet. There is, in these parts, a mountain wider than the Alai or the Pamir. The width in Balti is twenty days' journey. ### [212.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.3) The pass ascending from Yarkand is the pass of Sanju, and the pass descending on the side of Kashmir is the pass of Askardu. \[From the Sanju pass to the Askardu pass\] is twenty days' journey. In the direction of winter sunset from Khotan, are some of the cities of Hind, such as Lahur, Sultanpur, and Bajwara, and the afore-mentioned mountain range lies between. Between Khotan and the towns of Hind above-named, are situated Arduk, Guga, and Aspati, which belong to Tibet ; and it must be supposed that those mountains extend into Khitai. On the west and south of the range lies Hindustan ; while Bhira, Lahur and Bangala are all on the skirts of it. All the rivers of Hind flow down from these hills, and their sources are in the country of Tibet. ### [212.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.4) On the north and east of Tibet lie Yarkand, Khotan, Charchan, Lob, Katak and Sarigh Uighur. The rest is a sandy waste \[registdn\], whose frontier adjoins Kanju and Sakju of Khitai. All the streams which flow down from the mountains of Tibet, in a westerly and southerly direction, become rivers of Hind, such as the Nilab, the river of Bhira, the Chinab, the river of Lahur, the river of Sultanpur and the river of Bajwara, which are all rivers of Sind. The Jun and the Gang and others flow through Bangala into the ocean ; all the streams which flow in an easterly and northerly direction from the mountains of Tibet, such as the river of Yarkand, the Ak Kash and the Kara Kash, the Kirya, the Charchan, and the rest, all empty themselves into the Kuk Naur, which is a lake in the aforesaid sand waste. I have heard some Moghuls say that one may travel round \[the lake\] in three months. From one end of it, issues a large river, which is called the Kara Muran of Khitai. ### [212.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.5) From these details it will be clear that Tibet is a very high-lying country, since its waters run in all directions. Any one wishing to enter Tibet, must first ascend lofty passes, which do not slope downward on the other side, for on the top the land is level; in a few cases only, the passes have slight declivities \[on the far side\]. On account \[of the height\] Tibet is excessively cold — so much so, that in most places nothing but turnips can be cultivated. The barley is generally of a kind that ripens in two months. In some parts of Tibet, the summer only lasts forty days, and even then the rivers are often frozen over after midnight. In all Tibet, in consequence of the severity of the cold, trees never reach any height; nor does the corn, for, being low on the ground, it is trodden down by the cattle. ### [212.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.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. ### [212.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.7) Having laid in a stock, during spring, of such Tibetan products as are in demand in Khitai, they dispose of the Indian and Tibetan goods there in the winter, and return to Tibet in the \[following\] spring, carrying with them Khitai wares. The next winter they again go on to India. The burdens which they load on the sheep in Hindustan are removed in Khitai, and those put on in Khitai are taken off in Hindustan. Thus they spend their winters alternately in Hindustan and Khitai. This is the mode of life of all the Champa. A Champa will sometimes carry as many as 10,000 sheep-loads, and every sheep-load may be reckoned at twelve man. What an enormous quantity is this! That amount is loaded in one year, either in Hindustan or in Khitai. On every occasion. wherever they go, they take all these loads with them, and are never caused fatigue or trouble by them. I have never heard of a similar practice among any other people. In fact, some do not even credit this story. These Champa are a numerous race, inasmuch as one of their tribes, called Dulpa, numbers more than 50,000 families. And there are many more tribes like this one. From some of the chiefs I have asked their numbers, but they have been unable to inform me. God knows best; and the responsibility be upon \[those who have failed to inform me\]. ### [212.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212.8) The dwellers in villages are called Yulpa; they inhabit many districts — such as Balti, which is a province of Tibet; Balti, in turn, comprises several \[smaller\] districts, such as Purik, Khapula, Ashigar, Askardu, \[Runk\], and Ladaks, and each of these contains fortresses and villages. Wherever I went in Tibet, I either took the country by force or made peace, on the inhabitants paying tribute. Among these \[places may be mentioned\] Balti, Zanskar, Maryul, Rudok, Guge, Lu, Burang, Zunka, Minkab \[or Hinkab\], Zir-Sud-Kankar, Kisau, Ham, Alalai-Lutak, Tuk, Labug \[or Lanuk\], Astakbark \[or Askarbrak\], which is the limit of my journey. From Askabrak to Bangala is twenty-four days' journey, and Ursang is on the east, and Bangala on the south, of Askabrak. Ursang is the Kibla and Ka'ba of all Khitai and Tibet, and has a vast idol-temple. As what I heard concerning this temple is incredible I have not written it. There are many false stories told of it. In short, it is the seat of learning and the city of the pious of Tibet and Khitai. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.212) · Pramāṇa