Part 169 - Migyitun: river, ruins, name origin, and local customs

1 page

SUMMARY:
The page describes the river’s gradient, extensive buckthorn trees, and ruins near Migyitun, along with an explanation from the head lama at Sangacholing that 'Migyitun' means 'seven head men.' It also notes local slavery practices involving Abors, taxation arrangements in Migyitun, and available cultivation including eggs, potatoes, and wheat.

CONTENT:
River falls pretty easily for the first mile or two, getting I think a bit steeper about mile 4. There are a good many buckthorn trees about, which in many places grow to a height of 50 feet or more. The highest are only a mile below Migyitun, where there are some ruins. These ruins were houses built by the Migyitun people, so they say, and were destroyed by the Lopas, who would not have them coming any further down the valley. "Migyitun", we were told in Sangacholing by the head lama is a name meaning the seven head men "Mi gyim dun" gyim being a short form of gyimpo. Slavery of a kind is still common, and Abors are often sold up here, the price being somewhere about 20-30 Rs or its equivalent. The old price is said to have been a sword for the head, a dagger for each limb and a cow for the body. Prices seem to have gone down, and a pig replaces the cow. I should think the "slaves" were much happier here than where they come from. Migyitun consists of about 30 houses, seven of which pay tax to the Tibetan Government, the remainder pay a little to the seven. There is quite a lot of cultivation, and eggs, potatoes, and wheat are available.