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

TIBET. .371earth, by cracking and opening in uncommon ciiasms, is said to havediscovered such an abundance of gold, that the quantity collected,reduced the price of a pootree, to nine indermillees.As these preciousmetals are merely repiesentatives of labour, and commodities, thereAvillconsequently Ibllow great fluctuations in the profits of commerce;the balance, however, will at all times be found on the side of themerchant.Tiiose articles of trade which are next in importance, amongst thenatural productions of Tibet, are, musk, tincal,goats' hair, and rocksalt. The first of these articles used to be transported through thecountry of the Choubeis Rajas, and through Nipal, by the way ofBenares, into the upper parts of Hindostan, and the dominions of theMarrattas ; but as musk of late has gained much reputation in medicine,and as there is reason to believe, that none but what is greatlyadulterated,finds its way to Europe, it, doubtless, must be an importantobject with the faculty, to receive it in its native purity-Bootan, Nipal, Bengal, and Hindostan, are supplied with tincalfrom Tibet. Its value is little more than that of the labour employedin digging it from the bed of a lake, in which it is deposited, at thedistance of about hfteen days' journey from Teshoo Loomboo.The hair of the goats is carried to Cashmeer, and is that superiorsort, from which shawls are manufactured.The demand for salt, is in the consumption of Nipal and Bootan.Here are also several mines of lead, but, as it is a metal that entersnot into their common utensils of life, and is of little use in the country,they are totally neglected. As lead, however, is generally found3 B