1844.] and on Gerard's Account of Kunawar. 201 



The pile of stones with quartz, rags, &c. is termed lapchas in 

 Kunawaree, and in Bhotee lapcha, and is afterwards referred to by 

 Gerard at p. 126. 



Monastaries — Convents. — The religious service of the Lamas, which 

 is performed daily at the gom-pas or temples attached to monasteries — 

 Moor croft, II, 344. 



The Lamas and Gelongs who profess celibacy reside in a monastery, 

 called ghonpa or goomba, and the nuns in a convent called chomol- 

 ing. — Gerard, p. 119. 



As Gerard states, gom-pa or gunba is the monastery, and not the 

 temple. Labrang is the word for temple. 



Chomoling simply means the nuns sides. Chomo or jomo or zhjomo 

 being "nun," and ling, "side." I have not observed that the convents, 

 so to call them, are separate buildings. Gunba comprehends I think 

 monastery and convents; different parts of the same building being 

 appropriated to each. 



Festivals. — The grandest festival (in Kunawar) is called mentiko; 

 it is held in the beginning of September, but I could get no account of 

 its origin. All the people who are able to move, leave their villages 

 and ascend the nearest hill ; they proceed slowly making a circuit of 

 several days, and this is the time of the greatest festivity ; they adorn 

 themselves with garlands and flowers, and sing and dance to the sounds 

 of music ; they run horse and foot races ; perform feats of agility, feast 

 and drink. — Gerard, p. 81. 



In Kunawar, this festival commences on the 19th or 20th of the 

 month Bhador, that is, as Gerard says, early in September, and it usual- 

 ly lasts five days. It takes place after the first crop has been gathered 

 in, and is held in honor of the spirits of the surrounding hills, who are 

 thanked for past blessings and propitiated for the future. 



The Bhotees have a similar festival, and it is called by them nam. 

 gham. It is not, however, the same as that witnessed by Mr. Trebeck. 

 (Moor croft, II. 75, fyc.J If the description given by that gentleman is 

 complete, for it was held in August, and had apparently no connection 

 with religion. 



As Buddhism has not every where, if any where, superseded the 

 worship of the local divinities, it has in part yielded to the super- 

 stitions of the people ; and at Shalkar, for instance, they suppose that a 



