& SILK ROAD -Nlck Mlddleton

ABOUT THE LESSON patch safely after covering the snow with soil. Ten
'Silk Road' is a detailed account of the minutes later, they had to stop at another blockage.
visit to Mount Kailash. He visited the place toauthor's It was again a long stretch of ice. This time Tsetan
do the decided to drive round the snow. The slope was steep
kora' ('parikarma' around the holy mountain) with again and
other pilgrims. The kora' was seasonal and he was but Tsetan showed his drinking skillonce
perhaps the first pilgrim in season to reach Hor town crossed it safely.
from where he was to start his pilgrimage. He had to » Reaching the top of a pass
encounter several obstacles on the wayto reach Hor. Reaching the top was very difficult. The ascent
The writer uses picturesque phrases to describe
the scenic beauty of the mountains. The whole gave the author throbbing headache and he gulped
water. Finally they reached the top of the pass at
description is quite interesting as it reveals many 5, 515 feet. Here they saw huge rocks adorned with
unknown facts about a journey up the most difficult while silk scarves and prayer flags. At a petrol tank
terrain in the world.
Tsetan partially unscrewed the top which emitteda
SUMMARY loud hiss. Healso checked tyres and petrol tank.
The journey began » Reached Hor

The author, his friend Daniel and their driver
Tstean made a programme of going to Mount
Kailash. When he told about this to Lhamo, she
went huriedly into the tent and brought long sleeved
sheepskin coats that they must wear. They took a
short cut to get off Changtang. Tsetan who knew
the route offered to take them South-West, almost
|directiy towards Mount Kailash. Driving across rising
and fallingg hills they reached a place where plains
became more stony. Here they came across a herd of
wild asses.
» A steep drive
As hills began to push up from the rocky
wilderness theycame across well-clad 'drokbas'
tending their sheep. Whenever the truck took them
close to the flocks, the sheep would take evasive
action. As theypassed nomad's dark tents, their big
|black dogs chased their car barking furiously. They
continued their journey, theturns becamesharper
and the ride bumber. The track moved away from
|the icy river. The author felt the pressure building up
in his ears.
»The first blockage
Aswathe of snow layacross the track in front
of thenm. It must be stretching for fifteen metres.
|There was fear of slipping but Tsetan crossed the
Evergreen Literature Companion - 11
By late afternoon, they reached the small town
of Hor. They took lunch near the dry salt lake. Here
Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in
a truck.The author and Tsetan bade him farewell.
They had suffered two punctures and Tsetan was
now eager to have them fixed since they had no
spare wheel now. To them Hor appeared to be a
grim, miserable place with no vegetation, just dust
and rocks.
» Stay in Darchen
By the time they left Hor it was 10.30 p.m. The
author and Tsetan reached a bunglowin Darchen.
Tired and hungry, the author started breathing
through his mouth. His chest felt strangely heavy.
Then Tsetan took him to a Tibetan doctor. With the
medicine that he gave the author felt better, Tsetan
then left for Lhasa.
» Experience at Darchen
After a good night's sleep, Darchen didn't look
so horrible. It was still dusty partially derelict. No one
spoke or understood English in Darchen. So it was
difficult for the author to communicate with them. He
met Norbu, a Tibetan who worked in Beijing at the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He could speak
English. He told the author that he had also come for
55
|Kailash Kora ('parikarma' around the holy mountain).
Both the author and Norbu hired some yaks to go on
the pilgrimage together. The author felt relieved and
happyin Norbu's company.
THEME
'Silk Road' is a detailed account of the author's
visit to Mount Kailash. He visited the place to do
|Kora. Kora is a religious act performed by the Hindus
and the Buddhists. Mount Kailash is considered holy
|by the devotees. A Kora (parikarma) around this holy
mountain is considered to be very auspicious. Kailash
Kora' and its importance can be found in various
works of Buddhist literature. In the words of Tsetan
death is the final nirvana which sianifies blowing
out of a candle. The cycle of birth and death breaks
with the attainment of Nirvana' which is something
desirable.
TITLE
"Silk Road' describes in detail the author's heavy but with medicine given by the Tibetan doctor,
journey from Ravu to Mount Kailash. It is related
|to the main east-west highway following the trade
route from Lhasa to Kashmir. In the past this route
was used to bring silk from Kashmir. That is why the
road was named Silk Road. The article contains
an account of howthe author and his driver Tsetan
covered this route. Theystarted from Ravu eary in
the morning. Covering the dusty plains and the steep
GLOSSARY
hills, they reached Darchen at about 10. 30 p.m. The
author hoped to meet some devout pilgrims with
whom he could go and do Kora, the religious act
as valuable as silk. Therefore thetitle 'Silk Road' is
literally and symbolically very appropriate.
CHARACTER
The Author - Nick Middleton
The article 'Silk Road' throws a flood of light
on the character of the author. He is very eager to
visit Mount Kailash and do the Kora i.e., parikarma
around the holy mountain. He hopes tomeet many
devout Hindus and Buddhists at Darchen. He is really
happy and excited when he meets Norbu who is also
going to Mount Kailash.
The author is firmly determined to accomplish
the target. In spite of the difficulties that come in the
way, he is not frightened. When he reaches Darchen,
he starts breathing through his mouth. His chest feels
he recOvers.
The author is fond of reading. He feels very
happy in the company of Norbu who is also working
in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The author, though ill-equipped for the pilgrimage,
happly gets ready though the journey is tiresome. He
has zest and enthusiasm.

Words Meanings Words Meanings

flawless perfect slither slip
extended spread out ascertain make sure
tinted coloured sturdy strong
ducking bending fling throw
clambered climbed with difficulty pitched in dug in
gazelles kinds of deer blockage obstacle
nibbling taking small bits negotiated crossed
arid dry studded fullof
pastures grassy fields hairpin bend sharp bend
bounding jumping crest past drove past
galloping running fast pockmarked full of holes
en masse all Brackish SOur
manoeuvres stratagems accumulated gathered
56 Evergreen Literature Companion - 11
 Words
plumes
Meanings Words Meanings
(here) clouds refuse waste/dirt
crisp lively head waters (here) origins
tending looking after forge ahead move ahead
wrapped folded
evasive draught dry spell
mastiff avoiding nocturnal of the night
a kind of big dog aversion hatred
shaggy untidy
massive
academic scholarly
big lit up brightened
furiousBy violently initial
ferocious primary
violent transpired became known
capped covered envisaged visualised
clogged blocked hysterical very excited
glinting shining
daubed tummy belly
painted flanks sides
patches pieces
petered out ended
pondering thinking deeply
encrusted rickety old and worn
many layered cairn of rocks heap of stones

SHORTANSWER QUESTIONS
0.1. The article has been titled 'Silk Road'.
Justify it.
Ans. The term Silk Road' was derived from the
German Seidenstrafse. The Silk Road or Silk
Route referred to a long trail that led from
Europe to China. Travellers along the route
would buy and sellvarious items, including
silk and spice from China. The Silk Road had
aseries of routes connecting manycountries
in Asia, including India.
The article has been appropriately titled
Silk Road' because the writer followed the
Silk Road to reach Mount Kailash to do the
kora. There is a long and vivid account of
the whole route and of the difficulties people
often encounter.
|Q.2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in
China's imperial courts. Why ?
Ans. Tibetan mastiffs-huge, ferocious dogs
were quite popular in China's imperial courts
because they were good hunting dogs as also
good guards. This is what was found by the
narrator on his way to Mount Kailash. He and
Vergreen Literature Companion - 11
his companions found that these Tibetan dogs
guarded the dark tents of the nomads.
Q.3. The author's experience at Hor was in
stark contrast to earlier accounts of the
place. How ?
Ans. Hor was situated on the sacred Lake
Manasarovar. The narrator had heard how
various pilgrims had been moved to tears by
the sanctity of the place. But his experience
of Hor was in direct contrast with
theirs.
He felt very bad about the place. He found
Hor a dismal, wretched place. There was no
vegetation there. The whole place was littered
with a lot of refuse gathered over the
Q.4. Whywas the author years.
Darchen ? disappointed with
Ans. When the author reached Darchen, a
slow
moving, sleepy town to start his pilgrimage,
he was quite disappointed. He
had.expected
to see a lot of pilgrims, but there
were no
pilgrims yet. He had come early in the season
to do the kora. The town was
also
a lot of garbage. It seemed to be a dirtywith
neglected
place with heaps of rubble and refuse.
57
author leaving
somegive dark black react big in closer, and the building another and author and took
the tradition
to
They and slipperythe car the
splendid car speeding was pilgrimag
their car,
to a the were huge mastiffs his
car and surface makethe reaching at
Tsetan
stones
the forwas wanted him wore. ?
near came the road round author
snow. the
pressure the
when Ravu
aboutNomads a guard. cocked
mastiff, and the
driving
car the
and
drove
party gave bullet. the the big with to andof in a
Lhamo
men in came caraction,stop struggling
the
icy
surface
Daniel then, on pile as on
pitcheda Tibetan author
mastiffs and stopped
of
in his Shethat special
happened as the a the the laden the Daniel direction
go
the Tibetan car likeTsetan was because
Tsetan, do a
Ravuwaswith present.
?leaving ?Nomads
the
door into sharper
felt on icy Tsetan, companions
Tsetan, curve, who
called coat of the When them ears.
his
After what
effect
? was difficulty.
did
author
was houses were the theauthor's
Tibetan
exploded
Tsetan
authorTsetan dirt the author,clockwise
do
he sheepskin a fixed did seatdid the
pass
? the
at did
Usually, track pilgrims
What Whenwoman
drokba'.
farewell
What which towards
sights. became throw So on slippery.What round
Kailash
stoodHow Why?outWhen bend,
his Why The any The
The The theTheand The ice.dirt
of a
Q.9. Ans. Q.10. Ans. Q.11. Ans. Q.12. Ans. Q.13. Ans. Q.14. Ans.
hiswell trouble theWhenTibetan,
wascould theyhis even and author's tradition.
Mount circle Kailashauthor's
Silkfaced
circumambulating
and the
physical
Darchen
his breatheup
hungry
as He felt He die party parikarma
wanted
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worked He do
that he thatthat problems
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of Darchen.
where felt realised
after the journey a in coldto and he his not he
think lot the taking condition
had slept and 'kora'
The thehe
strategy to writer ? bad in was feared party
other of
vanished of Kailashis tired
a wanted
Darchen author heaviness
nasal awake. waswhere
narrator Thedo mountaim.
author face to He
lot purpose as of is, there.
in a He
Darchen.
condition
barely he
to
The a a kora Mount was He
of face on ritethat had blocked.
physical his felt his
Kailashnarrator
Kailash. from
to came company well.
thinking He the reach
signifiesa he sleep.kept
had with an happy.optimism
had
not
to
Mount
wentthe mountain, to He He had cleared and
this felt though the holy Darchen
the he Norbu,up had the
pilgrims.
Kailash
to
do
reach good. mouth.
he to he Mount The Kailash.
Mount
narrator Mount
disappointed For author's He
did after
all?
author
time team wasto author
the became he difficulties. Describe got When and unable
oddsQ.7. So, was the
positive seasonal.
journey koraholyit. to notnostrils abruptly. relieved sleep. ?going to around
towards reach
Why the no in met could thoughWhat Route
round heavy through
up Where
well. go
The
by seekorahe he The Thethe Thewas sat was in The
to to
Q.5. Ans. Q.0. Ans. Ans. Q.8. Ans.
58
o.15. Why did the petrol tank make a hiss ?
Ans. When they reached the top of the pass
at 5,515 metres, the petrol tank of the
car emitted a loud hiss because the lower
atmospheric pressure made the fuel expand.
Q.16. How did Tsetan help the author in
Darchen ?
Ans. Tsetan was sorry to see the bad physical
condition of the author. So he took him to
the Darchen medical college where a Tibetan
doctor examined him and gave him the
medicine which proved to be effective.
Q.17. How did the people in Darchen live?
Ans. The men gathered in the afternoon and
played the game of pool, whereas the women
washed their long hair in the icy water of a
narrow brook. Life was relaxed and without
hectic activities.
Q.18. What was the planning that the author
had made for the journey ? What was
the result ?
Ans. The author had timed his journey to Mount
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q.1. What was the purpose of the author's
journey to Mount Kailash? How was it
accomplished ?
Ans. The author, Nick Middleton, undertook the
journey to Mount Kailash with the purpose
of doing the Kora. Kora is a religious act
performed by the Hindus and the Buddhists.
Mount Kailash is considered holy by the
devotees. He was accompanied by Daniel
and driver Tsetan. They started the journey
from Ravuearly in the morning.
Tsetan took a short-cut across the vast open
plains. After covering the plains, they climbed
up the snow-capped mountains. The road
was bumpy and covered with slippery ice.
They reached a small town Hor where the
author had a disappointing experience. They
reached Darchen at about 10.30 p.m. where
he caught cold. He expected many pilgrims
Evergreen Literature Companion - 11
Kailash. He thought that during his journey
But in
he would come across many pilgrims.
his
Darchen there were no pilgrims, it seemed
journey was too early.
meet
Q.19. Where and how did the author
Norbu ?
for
Ans. The author was mentally much troubled
timing his journey too early. His self-help
programme on positive thinking was not so
useful. It was in a café in Darchen that he
came across Norbu, a Tibetan, who was also
there to do Kora.
Q.20. Norbu suggested "We hire someyaks to
carry our luggage, which Iinterpreted
as a good sign." Why did the narrator
feel so?
Ans. Norbu told the narrator that he (the narrator)
was fat and it would be hard for him to
climb up the hill. Though he was not really a
practising Buddhist, he was enthusiastic and
practical in his approach. He suggested to
hire some yaks to carry their luggage.
but came across only Norbu who spoke
English and also wanted to do Kora.
Q.2. The author's experience at Hor was in
stark contrast to earlier accounts of the
place. How ?
Ans. Hor was a grim and dirty place. There was
no vegetation and rocks surrounded the area,
adding to its dismal atmosphere. It was full of
garbage. This town was situated on the shore
of the holy lake of Manasarovar. The ancient
records show it to be a holy and pure place.
The ancient Hindu and Buddhist studies call
Manasarovar to be the source of four great
Indian rivers: The Indus, the Ganges, the
sutlej and the Brahmaputra.The only café
of Hor was constructed of dirty concrete not
properly painted. Its three windows were
broken. The Chinese waiter was the picture of
59