s
statistics, the cost of two dozen or thirty mules would balance the
whole of the annual revenue on Indian imports into the country. The idea
that duties are levied at the Yatung and Gob-sorg barriers is a mistake.
The only Customs House is at Phari, where the Indian and Bhutanese
trade-routes meet. The Customs are under the supervision of the two
jongpens, who send the revenue to Lhasa twice a year.

The annual income on imports from India, Kasi assured me, is only 6,000
rupees, whereas the income on exports amounts to 20,000. Tibetan trade
with India consists almost entirely of wool, yaks'-tails, and ponies.
There is a tax of 2 rupees 8 annas on ponies, 1 rupee a maund on wool,
and 1 rupee 8 annas a maund on yaks'-tails. Our imports into Tibet,
according to Kasi's statistics, are practically nil. Some piece goods,
iron vessels, and tobacco leaves find their way over the Jelap, but it
is a common sight to see mules returning into Tibet with nothing but
their drivers' cooking utensils and warm clothing.[9]

[9] The only articles imported to the value of L1,000 are cotton
goods, woollen cloths, metals, chinaware, coral, indigo, maize,
silk, fur, and tobacco.

The only exports to the value of L1,000 are musk, ponies, skins,
wool, and yaks'-tails.

Appended are the returns for the years 1895-1902:

Year. Value of Articles Value of Articles Total Value of
Imported into Exported from Imports and
Tibet. Tibet. Exports.
Rs. Rs. Rs.
1895 416,218 634,086 1,050,304
1896 561,395 781,269 1,342,664
1897 674,139 820,300 1,494,436
1898 718,475 817,851 1,536,326
1899 962,637 822,760 1,785,397
1900 730,502 710,012 1,440,514
1901 734,075 783,480 1,517,555
1902 761,837 805,338 1,567,075

_Customs House Returns, Yatung._

At present no Indian tea passes Yatung. That none is sold at Phari
confirms the rumour I mentioned that the Chinese Amban, after signing
the trade regulations between India and Tibet in Darjeeling, 1893,
crossed the frontier to introduce new laws, virtually annulling the
regulations. Indian