1832.] Geographical Notice of Tibet. 123 



and Shalc'hok, or Garhwal and Kamaon ; Dsumlang ; Gorkha-yul ; 

 Pal-yul (Bal-yul) or Nepal ; Lhopato or Bhutan ; Ashong or Asam. 

 The names of the countries or districts in Tibet that lie next to 

 India, commencing from Cashmir, are as follows : Himbab (near to 

 Cashmir), Purik, Zanskar, Spiti, Giige, Purang, Kyirong, Lhoprdk, 

 Mydnam, Lacfrhi, Mon-ts'ho-sna. 



Beyond the fourth range of the Himalaya mountains, or in the next 

 valley to the north of Ladak, there are the following districts, count- 

 ing them eastward : Nubra^ Rudok, Tso-iso, Bomba, Chang-ts'ha- 

 fchtt) Chang-ra greng. 



The three great divisions of Tibet are : 



1. Tibet Proper, or U-tsdng. 2. K'ham-yul^ or the eastern part of 

 Tibet, and 3. Ndri, or the north-western part of Tibet. 



I. Tibet Proper or U-tsdng. It is that part of Tibet which lies next 

 to the north of Asam, Bhutan, and Nepal, that is called by this name, 

 This is the most considerable part of Tibet. The inhabitants of 

 this division are the most industrious, skilful, and polite of all the 

 Tibetan races. The number of the inhabitants in these two 

 provinces is said to be about one hundred and thirty thousand fami- 

 lies. Lhassa is the capital of the province [7, as also of the whole of 

 Tibet. From the seventh till the tenth century it has been the resi- 

 dence of the kings of Tibet. Now it is the first place for commerce in 

 Tibet, the seat of government, and the residence of the Chinese 

 Ambans (or ministers). There are several religious establishments. 

 Near Lhassa is Potala, the residence of the great Lama, (styled 

 Gyel-vd-rin-po-chlie,) the head of the sect called Geluk-pa or 

 Geldanpa. Other remarkable places, in the province U, are : 

 Yam-bu- Lhd-gdng, a fort or castle built in the fourth century, by 

 Thothori, a king. It has been the residence of the ancient kings. It 

 contains some antiquities, and plastic images of the ancient kings. 

 It is a few days' journey to the south from Lhassa. Sam-ye 

 (Bsam-yas) a royal residence and a large monastery, one day's 

 journey from Lhassa^ built in the eighth century by K'hri- 

 sron g-dehu-tsan, a celebrated king. There are deposited several 

 ancient books taken from India. In the province of U, among other 

 forts or castles, Be-cKhen-song and Haspori are the most consider- 

 able. In the province of Tsang, the following ones are of some re- 

 pute : Chang-nam-ring 7 Chang-Lha-tse, Phun-tsliok-ling, and Gy- 

 ang-tse. 



2. Kham-yul {K'hams-yul) , called also Pot-ch'hen, or 

 Great Tibet, consists of the eastern part of Tibet, and is bounded 



r 2 



