88 PA LUNG. Chap. XXI. 



feet. Barometric observations, taken in October, at a 

 point considerably lower down the stream, made the 

 elevation 15,620 feet, or a few feet lower than Kongra 

 Lama pass. 



A Lama accompanied this colony of Tibetans, a festival 

 in honour of Kinchinjhow being annually held at a large 

 chait hard by, which is painted red, ornamented with 

 banners, and surmounted by an enormous yak's skull, that 

 faces the mountain. The Lama invited me into his tent, 

 where I found a wife and family. An extempore altar 

 was at one end, covered with wafers and other pretty 

 ornaments, made of butter, stamped or moulded with the 

 fingers.*' The tents being insupportably noisome, I 

 preferred partaking of the buttered brick-tea in the open 

 air ; after which, I went to see the shawl-wool goats 

 sheared in a pen close by. There are two varieties : one 

 is a large animal, with great horns, called " Rappoo ;"f the 

 other smaller, and with slender horns, is called " Tsilloo." 

 The latter yields the finest wool, but they are mixed for 

 ordinary purposes. I was assured that the sheep (of 

 which large flocks were grazing near) afford the finest 

 wool of any. The animals were caught by the tail, their 

 legs tied, the long winter's hair pulled out, and the 

 remainder cut away with a broad flat knife, which was 

 sharpened with a scythe-stone. The operation was clum- 

 sily performed, and the skin much cut. 



Turnips are grown at Pal mi g during the short stay of 

 the people, and this is the most alpine cultivation in 

 Sikkim : the seed is sown early in July, and the tubers are 

 fit to be eaten in October,' if the season is favourable. 



* The extensive use of these ornaments throughout Tibet, on the occasion of 

 religious festivals, is alluded to by MM. Hue and Gabet. 



+ This is the " Changra," and the smaller the " Chyapu " of Mr. Hodgson's 

 catalogue. (See " British Museum Catalogue.") 



