Summary
Short-Questions
1. How is Karnali linked economically with the low land regions to the
south?
2. What did the two writers learn about the life and culture of the
people of the Karnali region during their journey on foot?
3. What is Silajit?
4. What does the phrase, ‘The Tarai, bread basket of Nepal’, mean?
Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star
M. Lilla and C. B. Barry
Character
Writer : M. Lilla & C.B. Barry
Chhetri woman : a woman whose husband went south 15 years ago
Porters : a person who carry writer's goods
Some women : cut Sal tree
Some men : people who processes Silajit on the way
South : Nepalgunj, low land of Terai
Theme: Jumli's economic and educational status is very low they're backward and not aware of the relationship of nature and human existence.
Summary
The
essay 'Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star' is written by two American
geographers. In the essay, they describe the life style, economic and social
standard of the Karnali people. They say that the people of Karnali are
directly connected economically with Tarai of Nepal. They bring the products of
hilly region as herbs, hashish, blankets etc. to the Tarai, especially in
Nepalgunj. They sell them there and they buy many things from Nepalgunj. On the
way to Nepalgunj, they met a young Chhetri woman and talked with her. They
found her quite ignorant and simple minded, because she served them food and
asked them to search her husband who had left 15 years ago.
They
saw people processing Silajit on the way. They found these people are
traditional, conservative, superstitious, illiterate and religious. They begin
their work when there is a good star. So that, they make hurried trip to avoid
bad star. And finish their rest work on the way instead of completing at home. They
saw a bare hill with a little Sal trees. Some women were cutting down the
branches of the Sal trees to feed their cattle. They were unaware about the
relation between environment and human race.
Such
unawareness would soon vanish the forest of Nepal. At last, they reached in Nepalgunj. They found different
environment and the activities of the high people. In 15 months period, they
learnt many things about hilly people.
Short-Questions
1. How is Karnali linked economically with the low land regions to the
south?
Karnali is a remote area of Nepal. The land is ups and downs. There is not good fertile land so people can not grow a lot of food. Because of this reason, people do other works. Some people bring herbs, hashish, blankets, hand-knit sweaters, Silajit etc. to the Tarai. They sell their products in Nepalgunj and buy cotton cloth, sweets, spice, jewelry and different ware. They also go to the south for jobs. In this way, there is a strong economic link of Karnali to the low land regions of the south.
2. What did the two writers learn about the life and culture of the
people of the Karnali region during their journey on foot?
During their journey on foot the two writers learn about the life and culture of the Karnali people of Karnali region are poor but laborious. They are traditional, conservative and ignorant about the modern life. They earn some money by selling their own products in Nepalgunj. They believe on superstitions. They begin their work when there is good star.
3. What is Silajit?
Silajit is a tarlike deposit that leaks from the rocks. It is found in the valley of Sinja, which is far to the north. It is shaped into flat ten – ounce discs, and it cost small amount per disc in Nepalgunj. It is used for pharmaceutical use in India and they sell it in high price. It is taken with boiled milk. It cleans the insides and makes people pure and strong.
4. What does the phrase, ‘The Tarai, bread basket of Nepal’, mean?
Most of the part of the country, more than 70 percent, is covered by the hills. People grow less grain in the mountains. So, all the people in the country have to depend on the Tarai. It is the bread basket of Nepal. Tarai is the place where most of Nepal’s food is grown. Bread basket means the part of a country or region that produces large amounts of food, especially grain, for the rest of the country or region.
5. Give a short account of the life of the people of Karnali as you
find in “Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star”.
Long-Questions
1. Write how is Karnali linked economically with the lowland regions to
the south.
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