Nineteenth Century Trade Route between Bhutan and Assam
http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/journal/vol13/13-1.pdf
Indrajit Ray and Ratna Sarkar. 2005. Reconstructing Nineteenth Century Trade Route between Bhutan and Assam: Evidences from British Political Missions. Journal of Bhutan Studies Vol. 13, Winter 2005.
[...] the Bhutanese ponies were spirited, and understood
their duties perfectly. In the line of the march, they proceeded
orderly especially when the road was uneasy. They could
march in such roads at a speed of about 2.5-3.2 km per hour.
“In difficult ascents”, he observed, “they are assisted by
pushing up and in descents they are equally assisted by
vigorously pulling at the tail.” [...] Ponies
and mules apart, sheep, goats and asses were also found
plying in this route with cargo. Available information suggests
that the Tibetan breeds were superior in this class of beasts.
The Tibetan sheep, for example, could carry a load of 15-20
kg each as against the carrying capacity of 6-12 kg for the
Bhutanese sheep and goat. The ass was, however, the most
robust animal capable of carrying about 40 kg each. But they
were employed exclusively for carrying salt in this route. The
Kumpas of Tibet also employed the ewes and the yak as the
beast of burden but their uses were limited.
[this reference was kindly supplied on 21 Jul 06 by vajra vajra (darkvajra--at--yahoo.com)]
Please note that the above details were correct on the day this post was published. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com
Indrajit Ray and Ratna Sarkar. 2005. Reconstructing Nineteenth Century Trade Route between Bhutan and Assam: Evidences from British Political Missions. Journal of Bhutan Studies Vol. 13, Winter 2005.
[...] the Bhutanese ponies were spirited, and understood
their duties perfectly. In the line of the march, they proceeded
orderly especially when the road was uneasy. They could
march in such roads at a speed of about 2.5-3.2 km per hour.
“In difficult ascents”, he observed, “they are assisted by
pushing up and in descents they are equally assisted by
vigorously pulling at the tail.” [...] Ponies
and mules apart, sheep, goats and asses were also found
plying in this route with cargo. Available information suggests
that the Tibetan breeds were superior in this class of beasts.
The Tibetan sheep, for example, could carry a load of 15-20
kg each as against the carrying capacity of 6-12 kg for the
Bhutanese sheep and goat. The ass was, however, the most
robust animal capable of carrying about 40 kg each. But they
were employed exclusively for carrying salt in this route. The
Kumpas of Tibet also employed the ewes and the yak as the
beast of burden but their uses were limited.
[this reference was kindly supplied on 21 Jul 06 by vajra vajra (darkvajra--at--yahoo.com)]
Please note that the above details were correct on the day this post was published. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com
posted by tmciolek at 11:50 AM
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