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

'BOO TAN. 49of Slieenshilla to drink tea, and partake of the fruits which the inhabitantshad brought out, and placed on benches by the road side, readyfor our repast.Near the bottom of this hill,water constantly drips from the overhangingrock ;and in a deep recess at the foot of the mountain, a cascade,rushing from a thick wood, formed a large stream of water, overwhich was placed a bridge constructed of trees, whose ends rested oneither side of the rock, with split pieces of timber laid across lliem.We sat down here awhile to rest ; and the deep shade, the melody ofthe birds, and the murmuring of the waters, which imparted at thesame time a grateful coolness to the air, inspired us with fresh spiritsand vigour. AH this indeed was necessary to enable us to climb upthe Murichom mountain, where the road was extremely toilsome, andthe ascent very steep. We attained the summit about noon, muchwearied with the journey ; a considerable portion of which, we hadbeen compelled to perform on foot.Tiiese mountains are covered withvery large and talltrees, similar to those which compose the forests ofBengal, with little underwood. Numbers of people were employedin bringing water from the springs below, for the use of the inhabitantsof Murichom. The vessel made use of for the purpose, was ahollow bamboo, as large as could be conveniently grasped with bothhands. This was filled, and carried like a club, resting against theshoulder; some took one on each; and laborious as it seemed to be,I could not but observe that girls and women were chiefly employed Iin this service.I was obliged to halt on Saturday the 24th of May, from the want