Central Asian Trade & Other Essays on Ladakh by Eliezer Joldan

This book is a collection of essays under one cover. These essays are mainly about the Central Asian Trade which affected the lives of Ladakhis in many ways for more than half a century. The last three decades of the Nineteenth Century and the first two of the present century could be called the age of discovery of Central Asia and Tibet. Many distinguished Britons and European explorers, geographers and surveyors same to Leh, from where caravans were arranged to proceed to many unexplored parts of these countries. Also, many British Army Officers came for games. to shoot ibexes and antelopes. To serve these sahibs, a group of young Argons lent their services as grooms, cooks and orderlies. Besides, being physically strong and enterprising they spoke both Turki and Tibetan well, which was another advantage for their masters and in my personal opinion, they enjoyed travelling and meeting challenges, like these Europeans. 

Publisher - Gulshan Books