Table 1.

Social and geographic characteristics of the studied site and communities.

Ethnic Group	Villages	Elevation (meter above sea level)	Number of Households	Gender (male/female)	Age groups 20–40/40-60/above 60	Number umber of interviews (male/female)	Arrival in the area	Matrimonial system	Social subsistence
Balti	Kenderik	3170	34	5/4	40–60	9	Autochthonous	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Bilargo	2580	65	5/3	40–60	8	Autochthonous	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Chee chy thang	2780	59	9/8	20–40	17	Autochthonous	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Maimushthng	2780	86	8/5	40–60	13	Autochthonous	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Olding	2760	560	10/9	40–60	19	Autochthonous	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
Shina	Brasil	3400	130	8/5	Above 60	13	Arrived in 16 century from different parts of today's Gilgit and Chilas	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Maimush	3300	173	12/6	Above 60	18	Arrived in 16 century from different parts of today's Gilgit and Chilas	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Harghosil	3380	95	11/7	40–60	18	Arrived in 16 century from different parts of today's Gilgit and Chilas	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Hamzigon	2540	65	8/4	40–60	12	Arrived in 16 century from different parts of today's Gilgit and Chilas	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism
	Shiriting	2770	54	7/6	40–60	13	Arrived in 16 century from different parts of today's Gilgit and Chilas	preferred endogamy rare exogamy	Horticulture, pastoralism