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

342 TIBET.united together, by many strong bands.Gyap put one of these bowsinto my hands, which when bent, was of extreme tension.I was unableto draw the arrow, but taking it himself, he pointed it at a markupon the opposite hill,at the distance, as I judged, of five or six hundredyards. I could not trace the flight of the arrow, though steadilyintent upon it,when he discharged it.He peculiarly excelled indrawing the bow, and was polite enoughto say, that if I would pass some months with him at Terpaling, wemight practise together, and daily vary our amusements. I shouldlearn from him the science of archery, and, in return, teach him theuse of fire arms. I had an opportunity of exhibiting some skill witha rifle, but as it was a plain piece, I presented him with a fusee I had,which was better ornamented.It seems that the improvement of firelocksis unknown here, all their pieces being fitted with a match.While we were engaged in these sports, Gyap informed me, thatthere were men in Tibet, who could pass thedeepest water coursesin an erect posture, so asperfectly to preserve their arms from beingtouched by the water, and use them if it became necessary, as theysunk not deeper than the waist : this I conceived to be the art, ofwhich Ihad heard, of treading the water; and it must, if practicable, bea useful military lesson.He mentioned also the dexterity with whichan horseman here, would dismount his adversary, particularly when inpursuit, by means of a running noose.Conversation, and various amusements, occupied our time, untilwe were called to partake of a repast. It was prepared in the pavilion,where we found Gyeung seated ready to receive us.Our benches,