CHAPTER XYII
THE PASSES TO WESTERN TIBET, AND CUSTOMS
OF THE WESTERN BHOTIAS
The different passes leading from India into Western
Tibet are as follows :
(1) There is the route from Srinagar in Cashmere,
which goes through Leh and up the valley of the Indus
to Gartok, and is used by the traders of Cashmere
and Chinese Turkistan.
(2) Erom Lahaul, in the Kangra district of the Punjab,
traders visit Rudok by means of a pass between
Hanle and Demchok.
'(3) Kulu. traders of the Kangra district pass through
Spiti and use the Shangrang Pass by means of a bad
coolie track.
(4) The Simla route follows the Sutlej liver and goes
over the Shipki and Sirang passes : this is the principal
road for the traders of the Native State of Bashahr,
and it is hoped that in the future there will be a great
increase of other Indian trade also.
(5) Eor the Native State of Tehri Garhwal there
is the Lilang Pass: this route connects with Chaprang
in Tibet and Mussoorie in British territory.
(6) In British Garhwal there are two passes, the Mana,
17,890 ft., and the Niti, 16,750 ft., divided by the giant
mountain Kamet, 25,445 ft. : the former, called by
Tibetans Tunyila, leads from the country near the
sacred temple of Kedarnath to Chaprang, and the
latter from near the temple of Badrinath to Daba.