Chapter Sketch

This chapter is part of a travelogue about

the author's journey along the ancient
trade route called 'silk Road'. This
account of the Silk Road, with its contrasts
and exoticdetail, describes the
and hardships the author faced challenges
while
journeying to Mount Kailash on a
pilgrimage.
About the Characters
The Author He is a
Professor of Geography
at Oxford University and an environmental
Consultant.
Tsetan He is the owner of the car hired by
the author for the
tourist guide. journey, as well as a
Daniel He is an interpreter from Lhasa who
travelled part of the time with the author.
Norbu He is aTibetan working at an
academy in Beijing who wants to carry Out
thepilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
IGive reasons for the following statemnents.
1The article has been titled 'Silk Road'.
Ans The 'Silk Road' refers to a network of overland
routes linking Europe with Asia. This had been the
trade route followed by the Europeans since
ancient times who had a passion for silk, horses
and exotic fauna and flora of the East. It is a link
between the East and the West, a network of veins
that pumped new lifeblood into mighty empires, a
fabled route trodden by innumerable adventurers
through the ages.
The author Nick Middleton, in his travelogue,
follows the footsteps of Alexander the Great and
Marco Polo overland from China to the edge of
Europe. Hence, it is titled 'Silk Road'. The reader
finds it refreshing to traverse such vast tractsof the
tural world that remain largely untamed.
2 Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China's
imperial courts.
Ans Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China's imperial
courts as hunting dogs. They were brought along
the Silk Road in ancient times as payment of tax
from Tibet. They were huge black dogs also used as
watchdogs. They exploded into action like bullets
when roused. They were furious and fearless.
3 The author's experience at Hor was in stark
contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Ans According to the earlier accounts, the town, on the
shore of Lake Manasarovar, abounded in natural
beauty. A Japanese monk who had arrived there in
1900 was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that
he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the
hallowed waters had a similar effect on another
traveller. However, now it was a grim and
miserable place. There was no vegetation
whatsoever. Only dust and rocks remained liberally
scattered with years of accumulated rubbish left by
tourists.
 4 The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Ans The high altitude was giving the author health
problems. He had a bad cold and was not able to seen
at night. Since he was one of the early arrivals in the
pilgrimage season, there weren't any pilgrims in the
place. The place was dusty, partially derelict and
punctuated by heaps of rubble and rubbish left behind
by tourists.
5 The author thought that his positive thinking
strategy worked well after all.
Ans The author was disappointed with Darchen. He also
complained of bad health. Tsetan had left for Lhasa. He
was feeling rather lonely with no pilgrims around. It
was then that he met Norbu, a Tibetan who also wanted
to visit Kailash. They made a good team as both of them
were 'academicians who had escaped from the library'.
The author started thinking positively and it gave him
some delight and a new enthusiasm.
II Briefly comment on
1The purpose of the author's journey to Mount
Kailash.
Ans Nick Middleton is an Oxford Professor as well as an
adventurer. He follows the most difficult terrain through
the Silk Road and reaches the foot of Mount Kailash. The
purpose of the author's journey to Mount Kailash was to
complete the kora, which is a sacred religious ritual
according to Hindu and Buddhist tradition.
2 The author's physical condition in Darchen.
Ans The author was not physically well when he reached
Darchen. His sinuses were blocked due to the cold wind
at Hor and he was not able to sleep well at night. The
next day Tsetan took him to the Darchen Medical
College and the doctor there gave him some medicine
that gave him some relief.
3 The author's meeting with Norbu.
Ans The author was feeling rather lonely without Tsetan,
who had gone back with the car to Lhasa. There
weren't any pilgrims at Darchen as he had reached the
place too early in the pilgrimage season. The author
was sitting in the only cafe in Darchen when he met
Norbu. The author was delighted to meet Norbu since
he was also planning to do the kora. Norbu, who
worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences, had written papers on Kailash kora. So, they
decided to do it together.
4 Tsetan's support to the author during the
journey.
Ans Tsetan was a good and efficient driver. He drove the car
very carefully. During the journey, he spoke to the
author giving information about the places they were
visiting. He was very caring. AtDarchen when he
found that the author was not well, he took him to the
medical college and got medicine for him. He was also a
good anddevout Buddhist.
 6 "As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it
didn't really matter if Ipassed away, but he
thought it would be bad for business."
Ans These were Tsetan's words spoken to the author.
After the author's sickness was cured, Tsetan wanted
to goback to Lhasa. By saying these words, he
showed his caring attitude towards the author and at
the same time, he firmly stated that he wasa
Buddhist, who believed that physical death was not
death in the real sense. However, he thought that the
death ofa tourist could affect his business as his
credibility will be at stake in looking after the
tourists, due to which he may not get any more
customers.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss in groups of four.
1 Thesensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
Ans The hill-folk are quite unsophisticated and innocent.
People like Tsetan are very religious and
God-fearing. They are very much hospitable and take
care of the visitors from outside.
The reasons why people willingly undergo
the travails of difficult journeys.
Ans The author was an academician; hence, he undertook
the journey, for the purpose of education. For him, it
was a learning experience. People also undertake
such journeys because of the spirit of adventure. The
areas covered by the author are some of the most
difficult terrains in the world. Another reason can be
of a religious kind. People visit places like Mount
Kailash as part of their pilgrimage.
3 The accounts of exotic places in legends and
the reality.
Ans There are many accounts of exotic places in legends
and the reality. Places like Mount Kailash and
Manasarovar occupy a prominent place in legends.
There are many articles written about these places.