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

;198 TIBET.same time, to operate as a charm over the Dewtas, or genii loci, whoare paramount here. No mountain is thought to be wholly exempt fromtheir influence;but they are peculiarly given to range in the most elcvated regions ; where, drenched with dews, and worried by tempestuousweather, they are supposed to deal around them, in illhumour,their most baneful spells, to harass and annoy the traveller.We descended, by an easy declivity, towards the plain of Phariand as we proceeded, the first object viewed upon it, from the road,was a low hill, rising abruptly from a dead flat, and crowned with asquare stone building, dedicated, as I was told, to funeral ceremonies.According to the custom of Tibet, which, in this respect, is indiVect opposition tothe practice of almost all other nations, instead ofthat pious attention which isshewn to the remains of the dead, in thepreservation of their bodies from pollution, by depositing them intheground, they arehere exposed, after their decease, like the Persees ofIndia, in the open air, and left to be devoured by ravens, kites, andother carnivorous birds.In the more populous parts, dogs also comein for a share of the prey, and regularly attend the consummation ofthe last obsequies.About a mile farther on, the fortress of Pliari first came in view,upon the left, standing on high ground. It was a stone building, ofvery irregular form, but deemed to be of great strength. This mustconsist in the solidity of its walls ; which indeed is all that is necessary,among a people entirely unprovided with artillery.The sun wassetting; I saw the last of it about two miles ofl^ when we turned short tothe right towards Chassa Goombah ;but I had just time to distinguish