35$ G A N G E T I G II I N D O O S T A N. 



AJfam, and T'ipra^ are not lefs fubjedt to Goitres^ or wens, than 

 the inhabitants of the European Alps. 



Chaft.manixg The firft city near its banks is Chanmaning\ the n&xt is 



LaJTa, or LahaJJa, the capital of the kingdom, in Lat. 30" 30'. 

 The river walhes the walls, yet I do not find that Mr. Bogle 

 makes any mention of its being navigable, notwithftanding it is 

 above fix hundred miles from its fource. I have been informed 

 that in part of its tourfe along Thibet, it is as broad as the 



LahassaCity. Tbaines Tit JVeJbninfter. The cxty oi Lahajfa is well built with 

 Itone, and has confiderable commerce with China, chiefly by 

 the means of caravans ; it alfo fends caravans to Senli?iginjki, in 

 the Ruffian dominions in Siberia, by which it receives numbers 

 of the manufadtures of Europe. It is very populous, and of a 

 confiderable fize ; is the refidence of the chief officers of go- 

 vernment, and of the two Cbinefe mandarines and their fuite. 

 Thefe mandarines have adlually a garrifon of a thoufand men 

 in the city. It is alfo inhabited by Cbinefe and Cacbemerian 

 merchants and artificers, and is the daily refort of numberlefs 

 traders, who come in occafional parties, or in ftated caravans. 

 Besides mufii, the fine wool, and cow tails, Thibet produces 



Gold. great quantities of gold, either w^aflied from the fands of the 



Sarnpoo, or the leffer rivefs, or dug out of the mines. The 

 Lama never ufes any in his mint, but it is exchanged for the 

 articles of commerce, particularly with the Cbinefe. Rhubarb 

 is alfo an article of commerce. I may mention that Thibet 

 fupplies India with great variety of fine falcons. It is alfo 

 famed for its breed of great dogs, which Marco Polo fays are 

 9 almoft 



