The Himalayan gold
Who doesn't want to earn easy money? If I ask you to work for a month and chill out the whole remaining year will you be interested? Well, there is such kind of self owned business exists in the root valleys of Himalayas which avails you the pleasure discussed above. They sell a herb(keeda jadi) which is not very herbal though and if lucky earn a lot of money.
[Ophiocordyceps sinensis] this is what scientists call it. A kind of fungus which grows in an insect found widely in the Himalayan region of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The reason I compared it with gold is, the herb has been continuously selling with a price about thirty thousand USD per kilogram in a right market which is almost equivalent to the rates of gold in those respective regions. The underland caterpillar on which the herb grows is an endangered species and was being exploited ages ago since it came into spot light. It is an basic ingredient for miscellaneous Chinese medicine and off course, the most suitable market for this plant cum insect is China. The reasons it for being so unaffordable is still not much exposed but it would definitely be satisfactory.
The month of May and June(until monsoon arrives) is a heck and serious time for the tribals around there. Since, the herb grows in a certain height , say 3000 to 4500 meter, the aspirants set up their camps in those location, which includes adolescent kids to grey hairs, with the complete folding and clothing stuff for the long time. That time the snow partially melts at that height providing the job seekers to root their camp and enjoy the beauty of rocky mountains along with looting the rare herb. Water proof and temperature resistance mets are an initial amenities for survival and eating half stomach is the trend unless they hunt a wild deer or rabbit.
The hunt begins with the first sun rays and continues till late evening, if hit a jackpot timing is no bar. The boy I had met few years back told that he alone found a whole mine of the herb which gave him nearly 12000 dollars in one night. He successfully concealed it from his mates and went to the location at deep night and made his jackpot. Many similar stories of ditching best friends in terms more money are very common their in. Generally, it's very difficult to find such a batch of herb at once. Sometimes they struggle to collect a single piece for weeks and the mercy of climate is another headache.
As said the herb has been regularly implemented in production of medicines and so many rumors are also aired considering the per unit price of the herb. Apart from the general health disabilities like infertility , impotency and lack of stamina, the herb is claimed to treat cancer also. Well, everything which is a medicine and costly is someway always being connected to cancer, no?
The one and half month for tribals(herb diggers) is like a mixed journey of heel and heaven. Well, hell maintains its existence throughout but the moment they plod up a piece of herb it's the best feeling in the world. Tribals have their unique and traditional methods of proceeding to the war zone(mountains). They move in huge groups after worshiping their gods, say a whole village is one wing, and stay close enough in conjugated tents. They would never tolerate any outsider invading their property and digging up their treasure. Someone who is not from the fraternity is strictly prohibited and can lead to his death if tries to disobey them. In India particularly, the hunt for keeda jadi(herb) is itself an employment and that might be a possible reason that government has not yet illegalized the hunt of this rare herb for regional people, and the very clear rules says that it has to be sold in India but due shredding market in the country the whole collection goes to China through Nepal routes.Delivering the gold to China is the most cunning task though, a common digger can't really make this happen and he generally satisfies with what offered to him in his place by pimps. During that season the local buyers hower around there and buy it in a very nominal price. It is basically a long chain of agents which make it through China escaping from or either bribing the judiciary.
