Hurried Trip to Avoid A Bad Star
In the essay, "Hurried Trip to Avoid A Bad Star," two American geographers, M. Lilla and C. Bishop Barry, recount their 15-month journey on foot through the Karnali region of Nepal. After the Christmas holiday, they set out to investigate the economic connections between Karnali and Nepalgunj. Along the way, they encounter a Chhetri woman in her 30s who asks them if they are headed to Nepalgunj. She tells them that her husband left her 15 years ago to find work in the plains and asks the authors to send him back if they happen to come across him. As they continue their journey, the geographers witness people in the Karnali region processing Silajit, a medicinal substance, to sell in Nepalgunj. They do this on the go, rather than at home, because they are in a hurry to avoid a bad start. The people of Karnali are superstitious and believe that a bad star could bring them harm.
As they continue their journey, the authors observe women cutting branches from Sal trees to feed their goats, leaving the trees nearly bare. This demonstrates the lack of awareness among the people of Karnali about the potential environmental consequences of their actions, such as landslides, soil erosion, and drought. When the authors reach the Terai region, they take a break by a campfire and listen to the night sounds of jackals, bats, mules, and bullock carts. They also walk along paved streets and see vehicles for the first time in their journey. The people of Karnali, or their fellow travelers, purchase cotton clothes, spices, jewelry, ironware, aluminum, and sweets to sell back in Karnali. The authors' exploration ultimately ends in Jumla.
Upon returning to the Terai region, the two American geographers gained a deeper understanding of the geographical conditions and the way of life for the people of the Karnali region. They observed all the seasons and saw how the people lived in harmony with nature, despite facing many difficulties. They rely on trade for survival because their crops cannot sustain them, and some people seek employment in the plains. Overall, the people of Karnali are uneducated, conservative, and make a living through various traditional means.
Question Answers :
1. Write a paragraph to show how karnali is linked economically with the lowland region to the south.
Answer : The Karnali region of Nepal is economically linked with the lowland region to the south, specifically Nepalgunj, through trade. During their journey on foot through Karnali, the two American geographers encountered people who were transporting medicinal herbs, hand-knit sweaters, and blankets to sell in Nepalgunj. They also saw people processing Silajit to sell in the same location. In addition, when the authors reached the Terai region, they witnessed the people of Karnali, or their fellow travelers, purchasing cotton clothes, spices, jewelry, ironware, aluminum, and sweets to sell back in Karnali. These exchanges demonstrate the economic interdependence between Karnali and the lowland region to the south.
2. Give a short account of life of the people of karnali.
Answer : The life of the people of Karnali is difficult and challenging. They live in harmony with nature and rely on trade for survival because their crops cannot sustain them. Some people seek employment in the plains, and the authors encounter a Chhetri woman whose husband left her 15 years ago to find work in the lowland region. The people of Karnali are also superstitious and believe that a bad star could bring them harm, which is why they are in a hurry to avoid a bad start when they are processing Silajit to sell in Nepalgunj. The authors also observe women cutting branches from Sal trees to feed their goats, potentially leading to environmental consequences such as landslides, soil erosion, and drought. Overall, the people of Karnali are uneducated and conservative, making a living through various traditional means.
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