Diaries of the Joint Commissioner at Ladakh [‎127r] (7/22)

Enclosure Hg- 5.
No. 334 1003, dated Lahore, the 2nd September 1871.
From L. H. Griffin, Esq., Officiating* Secretary to the Government of the Punjab.
To The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I am desired to forward, for perusal and return, political diary submit
ted by Mr. E. B. Shaw, on special duty, Ladakh, from the 6th to the 12th
August 1871, inclusive.
Diary of British Joint-Commissioner on Special Duty at Ladakh, from the 6t/i to the 12^ August
1871, inclusive.
Abstract of Intelligence, —continued.
August 11th .—A Cashmeeree trader applied to me to interfere and do him
justice in the matter of some dealings which he had had with a certain Nattoo
Shah (British subject), agent of Nand Bam, Customs contractor (subject of the
Maharaja). The transactions being really between two subjects of His High
ness, although carried on through the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of a British subject (on one side),
I declined to interfere in the case. 7
I also received a visit from a party of Pathan traders of the Povinda tribe.
Most of them are now in Leh for the first time. They state that the condition
of Afghanistan and of the countries beyond, with which they have been in the
habit of trading, is such as to induce them to look out for other trade-open
ings. Some members of their confraternity, notably one Atta Mahomed Khan,
who had before traded to Yarkund, turned their attention this way, and hearing
of the new free trade-route, a party of them have come up this year with a few
goods to make an experimental visit to Yarkund. Not knowing that this road
was so good as it is, they had left their camels in the Punjab and trusted to
hired horses, but they declare having seen the road thus far that it is quite
passable for camels, and that, if the remaining portion is equally good and their
experimental trade a success, they will, next year, bring up their own animals.
Many of their tribe, also, they say, will follow their example; in fact, they re
present themselves as to some extent a deputation sent up merely as pioneers
of the new line. They say that they are much pleased hitherto with the facilities
of the route (they have come up through Kooloo and Lahool), the freedom of
the grazing and the absence of exactions; but they have considerable . difficul
ty in making carriage arrangements onwards from Leh.
The karayakash (or carriage contractors) insist on full payment in ad
vance, in order to pay off their creditors, and are besides disinclined to start
before news comes in from Toorkistan, The Povinda traders are anxious to
start at once so as to catch the first market, and with their numbers laugh at
the fears of the karayakash; but they object to pay in advance and, besides,
find it difficult to raise money on their goods in the present state of the currency.
Chilkees are valueless at present in the market, and no one will engage to pay
in Garbundee silver and gold till the arrival of the kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. .
I have, however, suggested a compromise to both parties, viz., that the
karayakash shall accept a third of their carriage-money in cash, and the rest
in bills payable to their order after the arrival of the Yarkund kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. , and with
which they can pay their debts ; and I have placed the Povinda traders, in com
munication with a merchant (Tara Sing’s agent) who agrees to buy a sufficient
quantity of their goods on similar terms if they can agree as to price. All the
parties have consented to the principle of the arrangement and are now engag
ed in settling details.