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

TIBET. 401of their heights, from the surrounding ground, Ishould say they wereabove its level. The road, however, proves the reverse. From Punukhato Tassesudon we had a continued and steep ascent for sixhours and ahalf, with a very inconsiderable descent on the Tassesudonside. From the south of the mountain, dividing Boutan fromThibet, the springs and rivulets are tumbling down in cascades andtorrents, and have been traced by us near to the foot of the hills,where they empty themselves to the eastward of Buxaduar.On thenorth side, they glide smoothly along, and by passing to the northward,as far as Tishoolumboo', prove a descent on that side, whichthe eye could not detect. This part of the country, being the mostelevated, is at all times the coldest ; and the snowy mountains, fromtheir heights and bearings, notwithstanding the distance, are certainlythose seen from Purnea.The soil on the Thibet side of the mountain, is sandy with muchgravel and loose stones. On the road we found the aconitum pyreneum,and two species of the saxifraga.Saw a large flock of chowry-tailed cattle ;their extensive range olpasture seemed to make amends for itspoverty.Sept. 15. From Faro' to Duina'' passed over an extensive plain,bounded by many small hills, oddly arranged ;some of them detachedand single, and all seemed composed of sand, collected in that form,having the plain for their general base.At Duina found a few plots of barley, which they were cuttingdown, though green, as despairing of its ripening. The thermometer'Teshoo Loomboo.'Phari. " Tiiena.