An Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet - Prajna Quest

BO OT AN. 141better. Yet here nature does every thing ; it remains only for themto extend their hands, and partake of what she offers.Among their vegetables, the turnips pecuUar to this country, deservea decided preference over all those that I have ever seen. They arelarge, free from fibres, and remarkably sweet ; and it is with justice,that the inhabitants pride themselves on their great superiority.Though bad gardeners, they are better husbandmen, and displaymuch industry in the management of their grounds. I have alwaysobserved their corn fields very neatly dressed;but in this, the men canclaim but little merit, for by far the greatest labour falls upon the fairsex : they plant, they weed, and to them, eventually, the task falls, ofapplying the sickle and the flail. In a thousand laborious offices, theyexpose themselves to hardships and inclement weather, while thelords of the creation, wrapt in inglorious ease, enjoy the fruits of theirtoils.The heat was rather too powerful to admit our being abroad duringall the day, but in the evening of Wednesday, the 9th of July, we tooka very long walk up the valley to the Raja's villa, called Zemrigatchee.We found this palace, as well as the adjoining garden, situated uponrising ground, much more elevated than that by which we approachedit. We ascended the bank, and turning to the left, came to a smallpavilion, erected upon a high perpendicular point, that overlooked theriver, and commanded a pleasant prospect down the valley : hugemountains interposed to circumscribe the view above.The palace wasnot entirely visible from hence, but partially concealed by firs, andclusters of bamboos, growing in the intermediate space.The pavilion