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

390 UOOTAN.distinguished by the taste, which is insipid and unpleasant. Whenthese springs could be traced to their source, they sunk the thermometereight or ten degrees below the temperature of the atmosphere.May 2,2 and 23. In ascending the hill from Buxaduar, there is tobe seen much of an imperfect quartz, of various forms and colour,having in some places the appearance of marble ;but from chemicalexperiments, it was found to possess very different properties. Thissort of quartz, when of a pure white, and free from any metalliccolouring matter, is used as an ingredient in porcelain. I have notseen any that promises to answer that purpose, better than what is tobe met with, in the mountains near Buxaduar. It is known to mineralistsin that state, by the name of quartz gritstone.The rock whichforms the basis of these mountains, dips in almost every direction, andis covered with a rich and fertile soil, but in no place level enough tobe cultivated.Many European plants are to be met with on the roadto Murishong ; many different sorts of mosses^ fern, wild thyme,peaches, willow, chickvveed, and grasses common to the more southernparts of Europe ; nettles, thistles, dock, strawberry, raspberry, andmany destructive creepers, some peculiar to Europe.Murishong'* is the first pleasant and healthy spot to be met with onthis side of Boutan. I-t lies high, and much of the ground about it, iscleared and cultivated ;the soil, rich and fertile, produces good crops.The only plant now under culture, is a species of the polygonum ofLinnaeus, producing a triangular seed, nearly the size of barley, andthe common food of the inhabitants. It was now the beginning of* Murichom.