The Tibetans established a system of hill stations at 20-25 mile intervals when they moved onto the Silk Road in the mid-eighth century. The many woodslips found at the Tibetan forts of Miran and Mazar-tagh supply considerable information on these. Watchmen were sent in groups of four, the commander and deputy commander always being Tibetan, while the two cooks were either Khotanese or Tibetans. In some cases, such as no. 104, only three members are listed which may indicate that one of the Khotanese had deserted. These soldiers listed here are all Sumpas from the region northeast of Tibet.
Ink on wood
The British Library
IOL Tib N 1107 (M.Tagh.006)
IOL Tib N 1541 (M.Tagh.a.II.0065)
IOL Tib N 1111 (M.Tagh.0010)
IOL Tib N 710 (M.I.xiv.124) &
715 (M.I.xiv.129)