1862.] Rotes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. 511 



in length. They are covered with flat slates or smooth round 

 boulders, from 6 inches to a foot or more across, inscribed with the 

 mystical formula " aumi mani padme hun," or some others which are 

 given by Major Cunningham in his work on Ladak. The same 

 author mentions some piles of far greater length, one of half a mile 

 near Bazzo, and another near Le of 2,200 feet. The characters are 

 Tibetan, or " mediaeval Devanagri called Lantsha," the latter I think 

 most frequently in Spiti, the style of execution varying extremely ■ 

 the inscription being sometimes rudely scratched, at others carefully 

 engraved with elaborate ornamentation, either in sunk or raised cha- 

 racters. Regarding the object of these Manis, Cunningham ob- 

 serves : — 



" Does a childless man wish for a son ? or a merchant about to 

 travel hope for a safe return ? Does a husbandman look for a good 

 harvest ? or a shepherd for the safety of his flock during the severity 

 of winter ? Each goes to a Lama and purchases a slate, which he 

 deposits carefully on the village Mani, and returns to his home in full 

 confidence that his prayer will be heard." 



Wth, Camp, West bank of Parilanghi river, 15,427 ft. — As Kiba is 

 the last village in Spiti this side of the Parang pass (in the Map, 

 Parangla, rightly Parang La, la being a pass) and the nearest village 

 in Eupshu (Pukchu) a distance of six days' march, it became neces- 

 sary to make preparations accordingly ; and I started therefore with 

 some six or eight sheep and goats, each carrying twenty pounds of 

 " suttoo" and flour, for the use of the coolies on the way, secured in 

 goat skin bags across their backs. This day's march was a very short 

 one ; the halting-ground a grassy spot at some height above the 

 river and well supplied with spring water of the temperature of 61°. 



A small lizard was numerous among the furze bushes, Mocoa Si- 

 himmensis, and a small lagomys inhabited the rocks, though not numer- 

 ous. Many snow partridges were seen, and 1 managed to run down 

 and secure a half-fledged bird as large as a chicken. The flesh tasted 

 strongly of the wild leek on which the birds feed. A large flock of 

 upwards of 200 sheep and goats was also encamped here, bringing down 

 borax, each sheep carrying over 20 pounds. Towards evening the whole 

 flock returned from grazing on the hill side, and I watched with interest 

 the process of securing them for the night. For this purpose, numerous 

 hair ropes, some forty feet long, are securely pegged down in parallel 



