66 Captain Webb's Journey in Thibet. 



attack of ague, with great oppression, increased action of the 

 heart, and of the viscera. But one man who was with me 

 suffered one of those attacks to which the Bhoteas are subject 

 in the commencement of the season, and which they consider 

 to be more directly produced by the bis ki huwa. He had de- 

 scended to the margin of the river about day-break, and, while 

 re-ascending, lost at once the use of his limbs, and of his recol- 

 lection ; animation was not, indeed, quite suspended, but it ap- 

 peared to me only a milder fit of apoplexy. His extremities 

 became cold, and after vainly attempting his recovery by fric- 

 tions, applying hot stones to his palms and feet for several 

 hours, I ventured to give him an emetic, a large quantity of 

 foam was thrown up, and in two or three days he recovered. 



I staid a few days at Niti to negotiate for the removal of the 

 outposts of horse before mentioned, and for my own favourable 

 reception on the boundary : all which was easily effected by en- 

 tering into an engagement not to pass the frontier without a 

 passport. 



I had an opportunity formerly of learning the ceremonial with 

 which such engagements are made, and of observing the fidelity 

 with which they are preserved. The form differs but little from 

 the sixpence of lovers " broken in twa," but a stone is substi- 

 tuted, one fragment of which is carried away by each of the 

 contracting parties, and set up in some convenient place as a 

 witness of their covenant. 



Proceeding from Niti towards the boundary I was met, one 

 day's march on our side, by a deputation of respectable per- 

 sons from the town of Dahn, and our interview took place on the 

 most friendly terms. 



For this, as well as for my general success, I am in a great 

 degree indebted to the accidental arrival at Daba, (pending my 

 negotiations) of my old acquaintance the ex-governor of Tukla- 

 kot, who had been relieved from his office in the usual rou- 

 tine, and was now on his return to Lassa, his native place, 

 and also the seat of the vice-regal government of Chinese 

 Tartary, 



It should seem that this officer bore strenuous testimony in 



