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

TIBET. 297The rock of Teshoo Loomboo Isby far the loftiest of all that are inits neighbourhood. In the coldest season of the year, the monastery,which is situated near its base, is skreened by it, from the violence ofthe north-west winds ;though at the same time, as the sun has southerndeclination, it enjoys all the benefit of its genial warmth. Upon thisrock, at least on those parts of it which have the most favourableaspect, I found the scanty remains of some weakly vegetation, and alittle low brushwood, sufficient to tempt a few vagrant deer, which Ioccasionally saw bounding about its summit.Itook an opportunity to ascend the rock, but my expectations wereby no means realized by the view I had from it.Bare narrow valleys,naked hills, and a biting frosty air,impressed my senses with a pictureinhospitable, bleak, and sterile in the extreme.impression might probably have been different.At another season theAt the period whichI describe, the whole face of nature in Tibet, had decidedly assumed thecharacter and habit of deep winter :the trees were bare of foliage, andthe tops of the loftiest hills,clothed with snow.From the summit of this rock, theeye commands a very extensiveprospect, as ittowers high above all the other eminences, in its vicinity.Yet no striking traces of population can be distinguished, though, Iam informed that there are considerable settlements, and that theinhabitants crowd into hollow recesses, and place themselves upon thesides of hills, in situations, attractive from the slieher they afford, aswell as from their advantageous aspect.From hence, Ihad the satisfaction to observe, on the northern side,at the base of the rock on wiiich I stood, that celebrated river.