St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-11-23
HERBS ON MOUNTAIN TOP5.
1.abofIous and Dimcult Task Of the Slnga1l'
Las Aconite C0llect0rA.


Las Aconite Collectors.
Writing about the aconitc collected
by Sirba Bhotiahs dwelling in the
Darjiling district. who occasionally
make a journey to their country, Bhu-
tan, contributor, says: OF the deadly
nightshade tribe, the aconite is plant
which yields to none in the virulent
poison of its roots 1t is to be found
growing at an elevation of ten thou
sand feet above the sea level. and
among other places on tho Singalilas,
a mountain range which is the water
shed boundary between Natal and Brit
ish territory northwest of Darjiling.
Here two classes Of aconite, Aconitum
palmatum and Napelius or Nepalus,
grow freely.
Aconitum palmatum is collected in
abundance at Tongloo, the southern
termination of the Singalilas; but Ne
palus, the more poisonous variety, re-
quires higher elevation in which to
thrive. It takes kindly to the bleak,
rugged crags Of Sundakphoo (twelve
thousand nine hundred and twenty
nine feet), and is to be found under the
rhododendron covers and cold, shady
water courses 1t seldom grows taller
than three feet, q single stalk with
blue flowers springing from each bulb
or root. The natives. especially the
hill tribes, take aconite in its crude
state as remedy for various ailments,
and every Bhotiah has few dried
roots put away in some secure corner
Of his hut.
Early in October, when the aconite
root has matured, one of the leading
men of the village organizes party
composed Of both sexes He. for the
time being, becomes their leader,
settles all disputes and quarrels while
out in camp, and, while keeping an ac-
count of the general expenses, supplies
to each the daily requirements in the
way of food. His first step is to take
out q permit" from the forest depart
ment, which costs fifteen rupees Uf
the party is proceeding to the Nepal
bills no permit is required, but toll
is charged at each station on every
load.) He wraps the pass up in a rag,
and places it in his network bag OF
valuables. collects his band together,
and sets out for the higher ranges.
They travel as lightly as possible, each
carrying q thumsi. or large bamboo
basket, which contains brass pot for
cooking, q fat iron spoon to help out
the rice, with sufficient quantity OF
rice and vegetables to last five or six
days They also carry thick Bhotiah
blanket, with the indispensable kukri,
or hatchet-knife. used also by the
Goorkhas, fastened through the waist
band. A strong saplingt serves as .
walking stick and as support for the
basket, which is not unstrapped from
the back until halt is made. When
tired. they relieve themselves by bal
ancing their load on the stick.
The first stoppage in their march is
generally made near running stream,
when they remove the burdens OF
their backs and light a fire or two of
brushwOod by the aid Of flint and steel
carried in the sheaths of their kukris.
They do not drain the water of the
rice. as is generally done, but eat it in
a moist mass on big leaves fetched out
of the jungle. with vegetables fried in
oil, and an amazing number OF hot
chillies. One hour sees them through
their meal and ready to continue their
march again. When evening comes on
they make a second halt in some desir-
able place to spend the night, where
they knock up temporary shelters
made of bamboos, to keep off the light
dew, squat around the fires they
have lighted, and crack jokes and
relate adventures they have met with
The head man, who is usually the GEN.
ter of attraction, has fund of stories
at his command. Or il . lama-as is
not infrequently the case-is the leader
of the party, he gives extracts out OF
their religious writings 1t is an in
teresting sight to see him perched on a
raised bit of ground, with his followers
lying around him in all postures, gaz-
ing with rapt attention while he gives
episodes out of their sacred bookA
The Bhotiahs are of the Buddhist re-
ligion, and own as their spiritual head
the great lama OF Thibet; but the
Buddhism to which they adhere is
much interviewer with demon worship.
AS night advances. and the party
think it is time to retire, they disap-
pear within their bamboo shelters,
taking the precaution to put their
kukris under their heads, In case OF .
night attack from the robber tribes
who hover about the frontier. Some OF
the harder of the Sirbas sleep in tho
open air with . blanket about them,
needless of the cutting winds and ther-
mometer at zero. They are generally
followed by q big woolly Thibetan dog.
a fierce-looking animal resembling .
bear, with large blue eyeA It sleeps
during the day and keeps watch At
night, giving low growls every now
and again.
As soon as the party has arrived at the
slopes where aconite is plentiful, they
build bamboo huts about five feet high,
with leaves for the roofs, and mako
the place generally habitable. After
their morning meal, each shoulders his
basket and takes = spade, for which .
handle has been made from . jungle
sapling. They start for the slopes
lower down, leaving the dog and one
of the company behind in charge of the
camp. Before beginning operations, .
ceremony has to be performed.
The Nepalese seldom take mp the
trade of aconite collecting, as they
have q superstition that the presiding
demon Of the hills imprisons evil spirits
in this plant, which 6y out rs soon "a
it is dug up. and inflict dire calamity
on the digger. Bhotians haye this
superstition also, with remedy. They
always have in their party \ destroyer
Of these spirits; and every morning be-
fore digging, the lama, standing on .
convenient hill with his crowd around
him, makes = fire and burns some
dhuua, . sort of resin, then putting
two fingers in his mouth, he gives sew.
eral shrill whistles All wait in breath
less silence till an answering whistle
is heard, an echo, the cry OF . bird
pheasant as . rule-from the gorge be-
low, or the soughing of the wind
among the pines, which they take IS