194 TUMLOONG. Chap. XXV. 



necklaces * and amulets, corals, and silver filagree work, 

 with which her neck and shoulders were loaded : she wore 

 on her head a red tiara ("Patuk") bedizened with seed pearls 

 and large turquoises, and a gold fillet of filagree bosses 

 united by a web of slender chains; her long tails were 

 elaborately plaited, and woven with beads, and her cloak 

 hooked in front by a chain of broad silver links studded 

 with turquoises. White silk scarfs, the emblem of peace 

 and friendship, were thrown over our hands by each party ; 

 and rice, eggs, fowls, kids, goats, and Murwa beer, poured 

 in apace, to the great delight of our servants. 



We returned two visits of ceremony, one to Meepo's 

 house, a poor cottage, to which we carried presents of 

 chintz dresses for his two little girls, who were busy 

 teazing their hair with cylindrical combs, formed of a single 

 slender joint of bamboo slit all round half-way up into 

 innumerable teeth. Our other visit was paid to the Lama's 

 family, who inhabited a large house not far from the 

 Rajah's. The lower story was an area enclosed by stone 

 walls, into which the cattle, &c, were driven. An outside 

 stone stair led to the upper story, where we were received 

 by the head of the family, accompanied by a great con- 

 course of Lamas. He conducted us to a beautiful little 

 oratory at one end of the building, fitted up like a square 

 temple, and lighted with latticed windows, covered with 

 brilliant and tasteful paintings by Lhassan artists. The 

 beams of the ceiling were supported by octagonal columns 

 painted red, with broad capitals. Everywhere the lotus, 

 the mani, and the chirki (or wheel with three rays, 

 emblematic of the Boodhist Trinity), were introduced ; 

 " Om Mani Padmi horn" in gilt letters, adorned the pro- 



The lumps of amber forming these (called " Poshea") were larger than the 

 fist : they are procured in East Tibet, probably from Birmah. 



