They had to make their living by gathering food, hunting and fishing because of low grain yields in the region. Life in the Past Largely farmers, Lhoba men and women are skilled at making bamboo objects and other crafts. They bartered such objects and animal hides, musk, bear paws, dye and captured game for farm tools, salt, wool, clothing, grain and tea from Tibetan traders. Their pilgrimages to monasteries were good opportunities for bartering. Hunting is essential to the Lhobas.
Young boys start early to join adults on hunting trips.
Upon reaching manhood they tracked animals in deep forests either collectively or alone. The game they caught was partly distributed among villagers, partly used for bartering and some was extorted from them by the manorial lords. Young men and women of these different groups could not marry due to strict class distinctions. They were beaten, jailed or even executed if they were caught running away or stealing. Women's status in their families, as well as in society, was particularly low, and they had no inheritance rights.