328 AN ESSAY ON THE 



North of which is a conical hill called Khyem-hngy 

 and dedicated to Maha'-dp:va ; and which is in- 

 serted in the map of tlie Lamas, but withcnit name, 

 and with two roads ending there. It is one of the 

 Southern peaks of mount Cantaisch, which rises 

 above the rest to an amazing height. A small 

 stream, rising behiixl the subordinate peak of 

 K^fi/''>n-luug\ IS considered hv pilgrims as the source 

 of the Ganges. There endt rl r he survey of the Lama 

 marliemancians ; and the countries to the South, 

 and South- U'e.sr, were added afrerwards, from the 

 rq)ort of nanves.. During the rains the lake is said 

 to o\ ertlow, and several streams rush down from 

 the hills- but they soon dry up, even the sacred 

 stream itself not excepted, 



According to Pura'n-gir, and other pilgrims 

 from India, this extensive plain is surrounded on 

 ail sides by peaks, or conical hills, but very irrc- 

 gul'tr : toward the North rhey rise gradually, and 

 a little beyond the sugar-loaf hill o\' Khi/em-lung 



♦ begins the hdse oi' Cantaisch. Toward the East the 

 range of peaks is very low, forming only a serrated 

 crest. To the South this crest is much higher than 

 toward the other cardinal points : but, to the North, 

 the mountains beyond the crest are very high. 

 The Southern crest is very near the banks of the 

 lake. The lake itself forms an irregular oval, ap- 

 proaching to a cucle, but the two inlets or smaller 

 lakes to the North are said not to exist, for Pu- 

 eax'-gir's route was to the xSorth of the lake, and 

 close to its shore, and he did not see them. Pil- 

 grims are five days in going roimd the lake, and 

 the place of worship, or Gomhah, is to the South. 

 It consists ot a few huts, with irregidar steps down 

 the banks of the lake. The Gangts issues from it, 

 and during the dry season its stream is hardly five 



. or six inches deep. It does not go through tliQ 



