Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star

Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star
-M. Lilla and C. Bishop Barry


This presented essay is an extract of a research article “Karnali, Roadless World of Western Nepal” published in National Geographic magazine in November, 1971. In this essay, the writers- the two famous geographers presents a picture of people and their life in Karnali zone, a remote and undeveloped part of Nepal. The article is the outcome of 15 months’ exploration by the geographers. This present essay presents a picture of how Karnali zone is linked economically to the lowland of Terai.

The writers began their journey towards Nepalganj from Jumla with their porters. Their porters had carried baskets full of highland products such as medicinal herbs, hashish, hand-knit sweaters and blankets with them. They had to sell those products at Nepalganj and had to take cloths and utensils with them. On their way towards Nepalganj, the writers met the people preparing Silajit. Instead of processing it in their home, they were preparing it in their wau just to avoid a bad star. During their journey, they came across bare hills, skeleton-like sal trees. When asked, the villagers replied that they didn’t have time to think for future since they had to feed their domestic animals. The situation presents the innocence of Karnali dwellers.

The writers had to walk about 2000 miles on foot because the zone was out from the reach of modern transportation. When they arrived at Nepalganj, the porters were busy in buying sweets, clothes and utensils that they would take to their home with them. The life in Karnali zone is very difficult. Because of the lack of cultivated land, the people have to do other extra economic activities in addition to agriculture. Whatever produced in their home village is not sufficient to sustain their life for the whole year. So they have to travel through narrow and dangerous paths regularly to support their earning.