July, 1849. TUNGU, INHABITANTS, YAKS, &c. 75 



mean temperature of Timgu in July is upwards of 50°, 

 and, by calculation, that of the three summer months, 

 June, July, and August, should be about 46° 5. As, how- 

 ever, I do not know whether these cerealia were grown as 

 productive crops, much stress cannot be laid upon the 

 fact of their having been cultivated, for in a great many 

 parts of Tibet the barley is annually cut green for fodder. 



In the evening the sick came to me : their complaints, 

 as usual, being rheumatism, ophthalmia, goitres, cuts, 

 bruises, and poisoning by Tong {Arum), fungi, and other 

 deleterious vegetables. At Tallum I attended an old woman 

 who dressed her ulcers with Plant ago (plantain) leaves, a 

 very common Scotch remedy ; the ribs being drawn out 

 from the leaf, which is applied fresh : it is rather a strong 

 application. 



On the following morning I was awakened by the shrill 

 cries of the Tibetan maidens, calling the yaks to be milked, 

 " Toosh — toosh — toooosh," in a gradually higher key ; to 

 which Toosh seemed supremely indifferent, till quickened 

 in her movements by a stone or stick, levelled with unerring 

 aim at her ribs ; these animals were changing their long 

 winter's wool for sleek hair, and the former hung about 

 them in ragged masses, like tow. Their calves gambolled 

 by their sides, the drollest of animals, like ass-colts in their 

 antics, kicking up their short hind-legs, whisking their 

 bushy tails in the air, rushing up and down the grassy 

 slopes, and climbing like cats to the top of the rocks. 



The Soubah and Phipun came early to take me to Kongra 

 Lama, bringing ponies, genuine Tartars in bone and 

 breed. Remembering the Dewan's impracticable saddle at 

 Bhomsong, I stipulated for a horse-cloth or pad, upon 

 which I had no sooner jumped than the beast threw back 

 his ears, seated himself on his haunches, and, to my 



