Posted by Per on April 12, 2001 at 17:20:10:
In Reply to: Re: It's a good thing, here's why posted by Mark Wilson on April 12, 2001 at 09:49:02:
:
: Cynicism aside, this is very good news. The people of the Dolpo used to trade salt to Tibet. But unfortunately their salt lacks essential minerals and with more open trade other salt sources are being preferred. So this tourism thing gives those people a chance to survive again.
Well, I think it was the other way around they used to trade some salt from Tibet, which is much in demand in some places as it is considered superior for tea. However, most of the salt trade was monopolised by the Thakalli of Thukshe. The were granted this monopoly by the Rana state, and got tremendously wealthy, so wealthy that there are hardly any Thakalli left in Thukshe. The same principle is at work with the trekking and climbing permit system.
In any case the main livelihood of Dolpho used to be animal husbandry. They sent their flocks for half of they year for winter pasture in Tibet, where the local Champa tended them for a fee in grain and some of the animals production. With the advent of the chinese occupation of Tibet they not only lost these winter grazing arrangements Dolpho was also flooded with Champa refugees and thousand and thousands of yak, sheep and goats. There were so many that there was a disaster of over grazing and epidemics.
Abolishing the Soviet style trekking restrictions will make a lot of difference. Just yesterday I had a look at the www-sites of various Thamel business and it is amazing how creative and industrious Nepalese can be when they are given the liberty. If allowed to develope tourism without undue government interference the people of Dolpho and Mustang will do well.
Per
PS The little salt trade that were decayed mainly due to bandits on the Tibetan side. As the Chinese could not control all of the border with their own people they gave unofficial licence to bandits and brigands to rob any one crossing the border in some areas. A Japanese expedition climbing Gauri Shankar strayed across the border and was robbed of everything, etc, etc.