Description
Book SynopsisIn A Mountain Oasis, Susan York presents a richly illustrated socio-economic study of village life in Pakistan’s Yasin Valley, undertaken during one year spent living with a local family. It documents this dynamic agro-pastoral society at a time when few researchers were recording developments in these far-flung and difficult to reach mountain oases of the Hindukush. It is a record of a time when development interventions were in their beginnings, and before this area in Gilgit-Baltistan entered a crucial period of transformation. It provides solid comparative reference material for future research on this region, which is continuing to undergo challenging and complex changes.
Table of ContentsForeword Prologue and Acknowledgements List of Maps, Figures and Graphs List of Photographs List of Tableslii 1 The Valley and the Village Economy Background A Household-focused Mountain Economy Village Housing Layout Clans 2 The House and Its Uses The Main Room – ha A Multi-Purpose Space Constructing a House 3 The Seasons: Spring and Summer Spring (garú) Spring Celebrations (Bo) Summer (šiní) 4 The Seasons: Autumn and Winter Autumn (datú) Winter – (bái) 5 Daily Life in a Large Household First Task of the Day – Light the Fire Making the Breakfast Bread for gunc̣áṭa čái The Rest of the Household Awakens After Breakfast Mid-morning: Time for Tea – čaṣṭákal čái Mid-day: More Bread and Tea – doɣói páqo Afternoon Tea: pišín čái Evening Bread: šaáma páqo 6 A High Pasture Settlement Establishing a High Pasture Settlement Leaving for the High Pastures Daily Life in a High Pasture Settlement – Makuli Makuli High Pasture Settlement Shelters in 1982 Visitors to the High Pastures Clear Air, Clean Water and Plentiful Food 7 Food: Daily and Celebratory Bread and Tea – The Daily Diet The Evening Meal Seasonally Available Foods Bread (páqo) – A Staple and Celebratory Food Milk (mamú) Products Hot and Cold Foods Food for Celebrations 8 Making and Decorating: Craft Activities Spinning and Weaving Knitting Basket Making Embroidery Tailoring Shoe Making Wood Carving Other Craft Activities 9 The Household: Who Lives in the House? Forming a Household and Changes in Household Size Households and Changes over Time Why Did Households Divide? Developing Trends 10 Relationships within the Household Age Children Adulthood Interpersonal Status 11 Beyond the Household Perspectives on Co-operation Relationships between Members of the deh Grambéšu-level Interactions Inter-household and Interpersonal Relationships beyond the Household, deh and grambéšu Epilogue Glossary Bibliography Index
