The Shauka live in the Johar valley at the base of the Himalayas. They
lived a nomadic life travelling with their large flocks of PACK GOATS, sheep and
ponies from the Trade posts of Gangtok and Gyanima in Tibet across
innumerable ridges and valleys into the Gangetic plains.
They maintained vast flocks of PACK ANIMALS for the sole purpose of
transporting costly goods over hundreds of difficult miles which separate Tibet
from the cities and plains of India. At Gantok, in late August the Shauka
caravans would be loaded with valuable Tibetan wool, GOLD DUST,BORAX and
ROCK SALT and begin the descent over the passes into India in early
September. (See "Shauka")
I have been surprised to find that Sheep are also used as pack animals in
Nepal. Roger.
