SILK ROAD

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the
context.
(i) Ducking back
Ans: going inside quickly and coming back out
(ii) Swathe
Ans: to wrap or cover, contextual meaning: land covered with snow
(iii) Careered down
Ans: descending down the slope
(iv) Manoeuvres
Ans: military exercises involving large troops of soldiers, ships etc.
(v) Cairn of rocks
Ans: pile of stones that create a mark for a special place like the top of a
mountain or where someone is buried
(vi) Salt flats
Ans: houses having thatched roofs covered with snow
(vii)Billowed
Ans: filled with air and swelled

Understanding the Text

Give reasons for the following statements.

1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.’
Ans: This article’s name is based on the historic silk road or route, the network
which connected the Afro Eurasian landmass. Many trades were established by it
– Chinese silk, spices, teas and porcelain; the Roman Empire’s gold, silver, fine
glassware, carpets, jewels and wine; Indian textiles, pepper and precious stones.
The road largely traded silk with China and was therefore named Silk road. In the
chapter, the author was exploring the Himalayan belt in Tibet and travelled to
Mount Kailash. The chapter is named Silk Road as the author explored this
region.

2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.

Ans: Tibetan mastiffs were popular as hunting dogs in imperial courts of China.
In ancient times they were brought as a tribute from Tibet and they were brought
along the Silk Road. They were used as watchdogs because they were huge and
black. They are fast like bullets and explode very quickly. Their breed is fearless
and furious.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts
of the place.
Ans: Hor was a gloomy and pathetic place. There was very little vegetation and
there was dust and rocks dispersed everywhere. Although the place was situated
on the shore of Lake Mansarovar, it still seemed unfortunate and miserable. The
author was really astonished to see the contrast between his experience with that
of the previously read accounts. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk arrived there
in 1990 and he got so moved by the holiness of the Lake that tears came into his
eyes. A similar effect was felt by Sven Hedin, a swede when he visited the
hallowed waters. However, when the author reached the Hor, he had to get two
punctures mended first. He felt relaxed only when he was served tea at the only
café in town, by Chinese youth. The café was made with badly painted concrete
and it had three broken windows. However, one of the windows had a good view
of the Lake and it helped to compensate a little.

4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.

Ans: The author was disappointed with Darchen because he was having health
problems due to high altitudes. He got a bad cold and was unable to sleep at
night. There were no pilgrims coming to the place as the author was one of the
firsts to arrive. The place was worn down and it was dusty. There were heaps of
rubble and refuse.

5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after
all.
Ans: The author was not happy with Darchen. He was in bad health after
reaching there. The author also felt lonely without any pilgrims around. Just then,
he met a Tibetan, Norbu, who also wanted to visit Kailash. They both made a
good team as they both were academicians and had escaped the library. The
author began to think positively and he felt new hope and enthusiasm.

6. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.

Ans: Nick Middleton is a Professor at Oxford and an adventurer as well. He
reaches Mount Kailash by following the most difficult terrain via the Silk Road. He
visited the sacred place to complete the Kora.

7. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.

Ans: The author did not feel well when he reached Darchen. He got a very bad
cold and his sinuses got blocked due to the cold wind at Hor. He was not even
able to sleep well that night. The very next day, he was taken to the Darchen
Medical College by Tsetan. There, the doctor gave him medicines that provided
him relief.
8. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Ans: After Tsetan left for Lhasa, the author felt lonely without him. The author
was one of the firsts in the season to reach Darchen, so there weren’t any
pilgrims there. It was then that he met Norbu. He was also an academician and a
Tibetan. He was also visiting Kailash and they both decided to go together.

9. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.

Ans: Tsetan was an efficient driver and drove the car very carefully. He spoke to
the author during the journey and gave him information about the places that
they were visiting. He also took care of the author when he got to know that he
was not well. He took him to the Darchen Medical College and got him medicine.
He was a good Buddhist.

10. “As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn’t really matter if I
passed away, but he thought it would be bad for business.”
Ans: Tsetan was a Buddhist and so he used to believe that death was not the
end of life. He believed that Kailash was a sacred place and it’s better for him as
it would lead him to heaven. But if the author died there, his business would be
affected badly as his credibility would be at risk for looking after the tourists and
he might not get any customers later on.

Talking about Text

1. The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.

Ans: The behaviour of hill-folk is innocent and unsophisticated. They are very
religious people and fear God. They are very kind and hospitable. They take
good care of the visitors.

2. The reason why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult

journeys.
Ans: The author undertook this journey because of educational purposes as he
was an academician. He went on the journey to have a learning experience.
People also undertake such journeys because of the kind of adventure they
provide. The areas that the author visited are some of the toughest terrains in the
world. People also visit these places due to religious reasons and as a part of a
pilgrimage.

3. The accounts if exotic places in legends and reality.

Ans: Exotic places hold many accounts in legends and reality. Places like Mount
Kailash and Mansarovar have an important place in the legends. These places
are being written about in many articles as well.
Thinking about Language
1. Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the author. How
do you think he picked it up?
Ans: Although Tsetan's mother tongue was not English, he tried to speak it in a
well-organised manner to attract more and more customers. Daniel was a
translator who helped Tsetan and the author to understand each other. However,
we should remember that more than words, the language of the heart is what
matters the most. Gestures along with good understanding are pretty enough to
understand someone.

2. What do the following utterances indicate?

(i) “I told her, through Daniel…”
Ans: She was not able to understand English but Daniel translated what he said
into the Tibetan language for her.
(ii)“It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.
Tsetan translated into English what the doctor said in Tibetan, for the author.

3. Guess the meaning of the following words.

Kora, drokba, kyang
In which language are these words found?
Ans: Kora – circumambulate, walking all the way round
Droka – shepherd
Kyang – a wild Tibetan ass
These words are from the Tibetan language.

Working with words

1. The narrative has many phrases to describe the scenic beauty of the
mountainside like:
A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky.

Scan the text to locate other such picturesque phrases.

Ans:
(i) After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the hang
sleeved sheepskin coats that…
(ii) It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes.
(iii) Extended banks of cloud-like French loaves glowed as the Sun emerged to
splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush.
And etc.

2. Explain the use of the adjectives in the following phrases.

i. Shaggy monsters
Ans: hairy, bushy
ii. Brackish lakes
salty
iii. Rickety table
shaky, unsteady
iv. Hairpin bend
a very sharp bend
v. Rudimentary general stores
elementary, basic