Sherpa

Sherpa, ethnically distinct group of about 28,000 people (estimates vary widely) living mainly in the high valleys of eastern Nepal. The Sherpas are probably descended from people living in eastern Tibet who migrated southward over the Himalayan passes about 450 years ago. The exact cause of this movement is uncertain; possibly it was prompted by political upheaval or religious persecution.

Sherpa society is based on equality between men, and between men and women. Village officials are elected and only hold office for a few years. Disputes are resolved privately. Women are relatively independent. As well as monogamy, both polyandry (one woman marrying more than one man, usually brothers) and polygyny (one man marrying more than one woman) are practised. The language, Sherpa, is closely related to Tibetan, and the people practise the same kind of Buddhism as Tibetans.

Traditionally, the Sherpas of the high valleys have been farmers, working the soil during the six months of the year when it is not frozen. They also herd yaks. In order to exploit the scarce resources of the mountain valleys, they live in the lower stretches from late autumn to spring, when they ascend, with their herds, to the higher pastures. They raise income by controlling trade between Tibet and lowland Nepal, importing salt and wool from the north and bartering it for rice, wheat, and maize from the south.

Since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, however, trade across the border has been drastically reduced. Today, many Sherpas make money from tourism and assisting mountaineering expeditions. Class differences have emerged.