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

402 TIBET.at six o'clock in the morning, below the freezing point, and the groundpartially covered with snow.Sept. 16. Road to C/ialu'". Continued on the plain; found threesprings forcing their way through the ground with violence, andgiving rise to a lake many miles in extent, stored with millions ofwater-fowl and excellent hsh. Of the first, saw the cyrus, solangeese, many kinds of ducks, pintados, cranes, and gulls of differentsorts. The springs of this lake are in great reputation for the cure ofmost diseases. I examined the water, and found it contained a portionof alum with the selenitic earth. On the banks of the lake, I found acrystallization, which proved to be an alkaline salt; it is used by the^tives for washing, and answers the purpose as well as pot-ash.Thepasture, which is impregnated with this salt, is greedily sought afterby fiheep and goats, antl proves excellent food for them. The hills arechieHy composed of sand, iucrustcd by the inclemency of the weatherand violent winds, seeming, at hrst view, composed of freestone.Sept. 17. Road to Siinadar''. Passed a lake still more considerablethan the former, with which it communicates by a narrow stream,about three miles long.There never was a more barren or unpromisingsoil ; little turf, grass, or vegetable of any sert, except near thelake. Saw a few huts, mostly in ruins and deserted. The only grainin this part of the country is barley, which they were cutting downevery where green.Passed two springs, one of tiiem slightly impregnated with alum." Chaloo. "Sumdts.