Hunza in the Himalayas: storied Shangri-La undergoes scrutiny

Clark, John

article

Hunza in the Himalayas: storied Shangri-La undergoes scrutiny

Natural History • 72 (8) • Published In 1963 • Pages: 38-45

By: Clark, John.

Abstract
The author attempts to correct certain misconceived ideas held by many people regarding the small, mountainous, central Asia kingdom of Hunza as a Shangri-La or virtual Himalayan paradise peopled by men and women of extraordinary health and longevity (reaching the ages of 120-140 years). Using these erroneous assumptions as a starting point, the author proceeds to list the many cases of disease he encountered while maintaining a general dispensary in the area, and the dietary deficiencies in the native foods which contributed immeasurably to the development of such diseases. Upon investigating the alleged cases of longevity, the author found that usually the individual was simply estimating his age. Later investigations based on the rate of dental wear indicated that such elderly Hunzas were in reality no older than sixty to seventy-five years of age. Other data to be found in the source pertain to the political organization of the kingdom, the status of women, weddings and the Tumushuling celebration, population emigration, and soils, agriculture and land use. The author, Director of the Central Asiatic Research Foundation, visited Hunza twice between 1948-1951, with the primary purpose of discovering what resources were available to the Hunzas and to teach the people to use them to the best advantage.

Topography and geology

Descriptive somatology

Telephone and telegraph

Informal in-group justice

Chief executive