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

^8BOOT AN.On Tuesday the 27 th of May, after ascending from the deep hollo^yin which Punugga issituated, our road to Chupka lay winding aljongthe sides of the mountains, which are richly clad with pines, the onlynative trees of these lofty eminences. After (ravelling about eightmiles, we passed by the river Hatchieu, leaving it to the left, near thespot where it joins the Tehintchieu and the Patchieu, called by theBooteeas Jumtchieu, or the junction of three rivers. At the foot ofthe Chupka mountain, we crossed a bridge, styled Russoo Noomboo,and ascended by a very steep and rugged road to the castle. Thecastle of Ciiupka, or Kepta, isbuilt about halfway up the mountain,in a bleak, but beautifully romantic situation: the mountains in itsneighbourhood, I judged to be the highest we had yet seen in Bootan.The light clouds ii;i some parts swifily glided past their sides; in othersthey had assembled, and sat with deep and heavy shade upon tiieirbrows: and as they were continually shifting their position, they variedand improved the views.On the summit of Lomeela mountam, bearingfrom hence to the east, and in direct distance about five miles,there lay a great deal of unmelted snow : we felt tiie cold even atnoon.The ensuing day we were detained at Chupka by rain ;Vbut luckilywe were now beyond the region of leeches, and that pestiferous insectwith which we were particularly assailed atMurichom.We crossed Chupka mountain on Thursday the 29th of May, inour way to Pa\iga, distant about eleven miles, leaving Kelligym, avillage situated upon the ridge of a high mountain, on our left, andDokhottyghym on our right. Descending on the other side, we