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

TIBET. 229my recollection, the important use to which Caesar ''once applied thisrude and simple invention of our British ancestors.Having travelled about ten miles, we came in view of Painomcastle, with itssquare and round towers, loftily situated upon a perpendicularrock, washed by the river, which flows at its foot. TheTibetians invariably place their strong buildings upon rocks : theseconstitute the base of every fortress, and most of the monasteriesrest upon the same foundation. I do not rememiber to have seen asingle edifice of strength or importance, tliat was not situated upona rock.At the foot of Painom, over the broadest part of the river, wasconstructed a long bridge, upon nine piers of very rude structure.The piers were composed of rough stones, without cement, but, tohold them together, large trees, with their roots and branches, hadbeen inserted ; and some of them were vegetating. Slight beams oftimber were laid from pier to pier ; and upon them large flat stoneswere loosely placed, that tilted and rattled when trod upon: and this,I fear, is a specimen of their best bridges in Tibet. Many of themwere extremely dangerous to pass over. The town lay to the southeastof the castle, at the base oi the rock, and some of the housesextended e^en to the foot of the bridge.As we turned short to the left, travelling due west, upon our rightwas seen, under a range of rocks, a very considerable monastery,endowed by Dalai Lama ;and, about two miles farther on, w as justvisible, peeping through the midst of some tali trees, a large white''DeBello civili, i. liv.