172 TIBET. Chap. XXIV. 



passing Jigatzi, and again turns south, flowing to the west 

 of Lhassa, and at some distance from that capital. Lhassa, 

 as all agree, is at a much lower elevation than Jigatzi ; 

 and apricots (whose ripe stones Dr. Campbell procured for 

 me) and walnuts are said to ripen there, and the Dam a or 

 Himalayan furze (Car a g and), is said to grow there. The 

 Bactrian camel also thrives and breeds at Lhassa, together 

 with a small variety of cow (not the yak), both signs of a 

 much more temperate climate than Jigatzi enjoys. It is, 

 however, a remarkable fact that there are two tame 

 elephants near the latter city, kept by the Teshoo Lama. 

 They were taken. to Jigatzi, through Bhotan, by Phari ; and 

 I have been informed that they have become clothed with 

 long hair, owing to the cold of the climate; but Tchebu 

 Lama contradicted this, adding, that his countrymen were 

 so credulous, that they would believe blankets grew on 

 the elephants' backs, if the Lamas told them so. 



No village or house is seen throughout the extensive area 

 over which the eye roams from Bhomtso, and the general 

 character of the desolate landscape was similar to that 

 which I have described as seen from Donkia Pass (p. 124). 

 The wild ass * grazing with its foal on the sloping downs, 



answer to my enquiries why it bad not been followed, I was always told tbat the 

 country through which it flowed was inhabited by tribes of savages, who live on 

 snakes and vermin, and are fierce and warlike. These are no doubt the Singpho, Bor 

 and Bor-abor tribes who inhabit the mountains of upper Assam. A travelling 

 mendicant was once sent to follow up the Dihong to the Burrampooter, under the 

 joint auspices of Mr. Hodgson and Major Jenkins, the Commissioner of Assam; 

 but the poor fellow was speared on the frontier by these savages. The concurrent 

 testimony of the Assamese, that the Dihong is the Yaru, on its southern course to 

 become the Burrampooter, renders this point as conclusively settled as any, 

 resting on mere oral evidence, is likely to be. 



* This, the Eqxms Hemionus of Pallas, the untameable Kiang of Tibet, abounds 

 in Dingcham, and we saw several. It resembles the ass more than the horse, from 

 its size, heavy head, small limbs, thin tail, and the stripe over the shoulder. The 

 flesh is eaten and much liked. The Kiang-lah mountains are so named from their 

 being a great resort of this creature. It differs widely from the wild ass of Persia, 

 Sind, and Beloochistan, but is undoubtedly the same as the Siberian animal. 



