Yeti: The Snow-Man

Nepal is synonymous to the word beauty and in addition she is the country with many mysteries which have touched the sensibility of the adventure-loving people all over the world. Yeti, the snow-man is one of such mysteries which have allured research workers, scholars and adventure-loving people from the different parts of our planet. Whether the animal called Yeti exists or not, whether it is a mytho-poetic figure or living reality, these are the questions yet to be answered. Nepal smiles reception all the people who want to get an answer for themselves.

A brief account on the facts and myths related with the animal is presented with the hope that enthusiastic and energetic people of the world will endeavor to undergo through first-hand Yeti experience.

The Name Yeti:

The name Yeti is derived from the sherpa word, “Yeh-Teh”which means all devouring creature. The Tibetan name of the creature is “Meto Kangmi” which is translated by some newspaper as “abominable snow-man”.

Appearance and Habitation

Myths related with Yeti and the people claiming to have seen one describe it as a large tail-less creature bearing a mixed appearance of man and ape, its body covered with brown shaggy hair except on hands and feet. The description suggest that it is tall, strong, swift and agile, it is 51/2 to 9ft. in standing and walks upright like human being and its hands reach down to its knees while it does so.

Descriptions of its habituate, though vague, suggests that it lives in Khumbu, above snow-line in Nepal and in snow-capped mountain of Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim.

Life Habits

Sketchy description, so far, do not share light on its life-habits. However, it is generally believed that the creature is very shy. It eats whatever if finds in the snow-capped mountains and it is very fond of home-brewed beer. All the people describing it agree that is very clear imitating human activities.

Some evidence of Yeti’s existence

No one has been able to prove or disprove the existence of Yeti so far. However, it cannot be denied that many people from the different parts of the world have claimed to have seen. Furthermore, many people have been able to produce photographs of the foot-prints of the beast. Many claim that they sighted yet in the Khumbu region of Nepal and in the other snow-capped mountains of the different parts of the world. To dismiss all of them and to overlook whatever scanty clues found up to now is undoubtedly unwise; many animals now supposedly known were once beyond our knowledge. Who knew about the giant panda a century ago? Consistent and scientific proof of its existence is to found, however, the animals, Yeti exists in the minds of the Nepalese people. Many hotels, travel agencies and other business establishments are named after it. Pictures and statues of Yeti are found in abundance in many public places of Nepal. The pictures, undoubtedly, are based on the descriptions of the creature called Yeti as presented by the people believed to have seen. It is, therefore, worthwhile to give a searching glance to the clues found up to now.

In 1899, Major Waddell described the enormous foot-prints found in the snow in Tibet. He came across evidence when he visited tibet with the purpose of studying Tibetan Buddhism.

Emanual Vleck a Czeck anthropologist found a two hundred yer old book in Tibetan Lamaistic Library entitled Anatomical Dictionary for Recognizing Various Disease. This blog post has certain air of authentic because the details of Yeti are verified and proved to be true by the modern science. The interstate’s in yeti reached to the fever pitch.

The conquer over the Everest drew the attention of the people towards the Himalayan region.Yeti also became the topic of great interest at the same time. As a result the London Daily Mail financed an expedition to Nepal in order to investigate about the mystery of Yeti. This British team consisted of three hundred people including many scientists and research workers. The team, however failed to provide to prove out certain facts which made the people more curious. They found strange foot-prints, they have queer shrill voice allegedly that of yeti and they interviewed the local people who had witnessed the incident that showed that the creature called yeti existed in the Khumbu region. The team returned, almost empty handed and their aim of capturing a yeti alive was not fulfilled but people kept on Yeti hunt. A Scottish Magistrate, A. Cram claimed that he caught sight of a yeti at 18000ft. in the west Lahual region in 1960. His claim, however, was not backed by scientific proof. He said that no sooner that he had been ready to snapshot, the creature was out of sight. The creature was too agile for that, he said. He was, however, able to take many clear and distinct photographs of the foot-prints of the beast.

1n 1970, the Leader and the deputy leader of the  “British expedition Team to Annapurna” claimed to have seen an ape like animal. Descriptions of its appearance match with the image of Yeti which are based on popular belief.

In 1974, a Sherpa girl, Lapka DOma was reported to have been killed by a mysterious beast. Her dead body was found lying among dead bodied of Yak whose necks were broken with a great force. The police investigators noticed some foot-prints surprisingly. Many people believe that the creature to savage the girl was Yeti.

Dr.John Allen and John Eduardo of the RAF Himalayan expedition claimed to have seen 8 by 4 inches tracks cut 3 or 4 inches deep in the snow around Hinku valley at 17250 ft. They also added that they found the droppings of an animal unknown so far an animal unknown so far. Sherpa guides and porters of the team refused to operate with the team as they were afraid of the unknown creature. They said that they heard the piercing shrill voice of the animal.

On April 28th, 1988, John Paul Davidson was studying same strange tracks around the base camp at 4585m. His attention was diverted by the attention was diverted by the appearance of an incredibly big and unknown animal. Visibility being low, he could not give clear cut description of the animal. Particular cases like this might be attributed to hallucination and optical illusion, however, we can deduce from such interrelated incidents and facts that the creature called yeti does exist.

On May 19, 1988 Dr. Rodney Jackson of the California Institute of environmental science came across two neatly skinned sheep in the high mountain above the snow line. But the horns, skulls and hoops were mysteriously missing. Many people still believe that the mischief was done by Yeti.

Grandma’s Tale of Yeti

Far long ago Khumbu region was the home of Yetis. They lived in the place quite undisturbed. They sheltered in the rocky caves and wandered freely in the snow-capped mountains of the region. They were strong, swift and were endowed with supernatural power. Later, the Sherpas came to the place and settled down there forever. They cultivated the land, towed Yaks and lived happily. But their happiness and did not last long. Yeti started pestering the intruders-the Sherpas. Herds after herds of the beasts would creep silently to the sheep villages at night, dig potatoes steal other foods and drink Chhang. (a kind of home brewed bear) engaged by the beasts the Sherpas decided to bring an end to the nuisance from ever. They convinced a practical trick to silence the mischievous beasts for ever.

Yetis loved to imitate human activities and they were fond of Chhang so the Sherpas wanted to take benefit of it. First, they made lots of beer and small wooden swords. Then, making sure that Yetis were in the suitable distance to watch their activities, they drank the beer and pretended to fight each other charging with the wooden sword. Then, Sherpas put poisoned Chhang and real swords in the same place. that night Yetis came to the place drank the poisoned Chhang and started to fight just as they had seen the Sherpas do. They killed each other. An old yeti and her son had been watching all this up from a hill, she realized how the sherpa played tricks upon poor Yetis, she detested human beings for the reason, so she vanished from the locality and went deep into the mountains. Yeti do not like human being but they some times come to the villages in search of food.

You can arise the question of your hands and come to Nepal to see each and everything for yourselves. Who knows, son day a Yeti may say “Jellow” to you in some of the Nepalese Himalayas.

The article credit: Tourist information Directory, Late Er. Ramesh Chandra Bandhu Bhattarai. MA Sociologist & Anthropologist.