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TRADE AND TRADE ROUTES. 55
ficial flowers, ornaments in butter placed before the idols, while numerous hands
are employed in preparing the incense sticks burnt in honour of the gods and genii.
Notwithstanding their simple tastes and frugal lives, the Tibetans still need
some foreign wares, of which the most indispensable is tea, the trade in which was
till recently monopolized by China. Tea, even more than arms, has been the
instrument by which the Chinese have conquered the country, and " to invite the
lamas to a cup of tea " has become a proverbial expression, indicating the means
employed by the Mandarins to bribe the Tibetan rulers. Hence the care taken by
the Imperial Government to prevent the introduction of the Assam tea, which, in
any case, is less esteemed than that of China. Still the natives of the independent
state of Pomi have preserved their right to free trade with India, whence they
import the prohibited article in yearly increasing quantities. The annual importation
from China is estimated by Baber at about 10,000,000 Ibs., representing from
300,000 to 350,000.
The exchanges with India are at present quite insignificant, and the little
received from that country comes mainly through Nepal and Kashmir. The
exports to India are ten times in excess of the imports, the chief item being the
costly wools, which ultimately reach the manufacturing towns of Yorkshire.
There is thus a constant flow of rupees into Tibet, where this coin is gradually
replacing the " bricks of tea " hitherto used as currency. Needles also are much
used in petty dealings, and ingots of silver in wholesale transactions.
The Tibetans are born traders, dealing indifferently in anything that may offer
a chance of turning " an honest penny." Every house is a shop, every lamassary
a warehouse. The monasteries have all their garpon, or chief agent, under whom
are a host of employes and pack animals. Caravans of yaks and sheep heavily
laden cross the country in all directions, although the great highway is the route
leading from Lassa through Tatsienlu and Sechuen to the heart of China. Another
route to China runs from Lassa north-eastwards across Mongolia, while several
roads lead southwards to Assam and Bhutan, south-westwards to Nepal, westwards
to Leh and Kashmir. This last, probably the most important for the European
trade, is traversed by caravans of silks, shawls, saffron, and other wares, leaving
Leh in April and reaching Lassa the following January. At Gartok, Lake
Munsaraur, Shigatze', and other stations along the route, fairs are held, often
lasting several weeks. After an absence of about eighteen months the caravan
re-enters Leh with tea, wool, turquoises from the Kuen-lun, borax, &c. The
districts through which it passes are bound to supply it gratuitously with two
hundred yaks as beasts of burden, besides provisions for the travellers. Along the
southern frontier the Himalayan passes are every year formally opened for traffic
by proclamation of the nearest local Tibetan dzonypon, or governor. In case of
war, disturbances, or cholera in India, they are kept closed pending instructions
from tlic central Government at Lassa. Nearly all the profit of this foreign trade
goes to the monasteries, which, by monopolies and usury, swallow up all the .savings
of the country. Thus, notwithstanding its natural poverty, Tibet supports in
wealth and luxury a whole nation of monks.