. Karakoram and western Himalaya 1909, an account of the expedition of H. R. H. Prince Luigi Amadeo of Savoy, duke of the Abruzzi. his is their only common grouiulwith the Ladakhis. The difference in customs is fundamental. 1 havealready mentioned that the Ladakhis, like all Tibetans, are Llamaistsand practice polyandry, while the Baltis are Mohannnedans andpolygamous. There can be no doubt as to the radical difference inracial customs, ethics, family life and political institutions springingfrom points of departure so diametrically opposed. See also the groups of Baltis shown mi ]i]i. lOfi, 1
. Karakoram and western Himalaya 1909, an account of the expedition of H. R. H. Prince Luigi Amadeo of Savoy, duke of the Abruzzi. his is their only common grouiulwith the Ladakhis. The difference in customs is fundamental. 1 havealready mentioned that the Ladakhis, like all Tibetans, are Llamaistsand practice polyandry, while the Baltis are Mohannnedans andpolygamous. There can be no doubt as to the radical difference inracial customs, ethics, family life and political institutions springingfrom points of departure so diametrically opposed. See also the groups of Baltis shown mi ]i]i. lOfi, 107^ IIS. 164, 192, etc. 90 Cliapter \ I. A very interesting ])oint is the circumstance that the Baltis belongto the sect of Shiite Mohammedans, whereas all the neighbouring peoplesof Chinese Turkestan, Kashmir and Dardistan belong to the Sunnitesect, like the rest of Islam in India. The Baltis thus form a little islandof Shiites surrounded on every side by Sunnites, Hindus and is known as to the origin of their religious traditions. Cunninghamsupposes that Islamism was introduced among them in the first half. FAMILY FROM SHICAR. of the thirteenth century. Drew is of opinion that the four missionarybrothers of Kurasan, to whom legend attributes the conversion ofBaltistan, must have been Shiites. The Brahminic bas-reliefs carvedupon great slabs of stone near Dras, as well as the rehgious inscriptionsand Buddhist symbols inscribed here and there upon the rocks alongthe path, certainly prove that the Baltis have passed through the samerehgious phases as the rest of northern India. In addition to the Baltis proper, who form the bulk of the population,there are in Baltistan small settlements of a people known as Brokpas,of Dard descent and Buddhist rehgion, whose idiom, customs and casteare peculiar to then^selves. They are less civihzed than the Baltis,who hold them in sHght regard ; and they lead a primitive hfe, mainly The Dras VallcN •ji as shepherds of
Size: 1824px × 1370px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorsavoialu, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
