1850.] Report on the Valley of Spit i. 447 



They believe in one God Supreme, but have a variety of inferior 

 divinities, which are represented in their temples. Prayers and charity 

 are, in their estimation, sufficient to ensure happiness in another world. 



They believe in various births hereafter : that a man's span in this 

 world is 70 years : but in the second it will be 60, the third 50, and so 

 on till 10, when a man is only to be a hath (1 J ft.) in height. They believe 

 in many yugs ; they say that only three have arrived, and that nine 

 hundred and ninety-seven are yet to come. Metempsychosis forms a 

 part of their belief, but they are not explanatory on the subject, and 

 say that only the Teshu Lambii can explain it. It is rather extraor- 

 dinary with this belief that they should eat the flesh of animals, which 

 they will not kill, but receive to be eaten when they have been killed, 

 or have died. The store-house of the Gumpa has a large supply of 

 dried dead animals, and pieces of flesh strung and dried. 



Once a month, the whole of the priests assemble for general prayer, 

 it is first read by the Gelong, and repeated by all the rest. Their 

 most remarkable festivals are usually at the full moon. 



This is all the information which I have thought it necessary at pre- 

 sent to collect, regarding their religious institutions and customs. The 

 Lambas are quiet and inoffensive, and much respected by the people 

 generally. 



If the country is highly taxed, it will be necessary to make some 

 provision for the priesthood in the shape of Jaghir. 



Lahassa is called by the people here " Chota Chin," and the coun- 

 try between Lahassa and Manassarovar or " Mantaloi," is called 

 " Guari." China Proper is called " Gynuk." The country of Little 

 Thibet is called "Balti," or that portion above Cashmere, &c. The 

 Ladak country goes by its own name. 



Climate. — Having no Barometer with me, I am unable to ascertain the 

 atmospheric pressure, but with a Thermometer only graduated to Zero, 

 I have, as regularly as I could, taken the temperature of the air since 

 my arrival ; always morning and evening, but being generally on the 

 march at mid-day, I have not often been able to ascertain it at that time. 

 I give in a table (No. 2) the range as observed, which will point out 

 the winter climate as being very severe. The diminution of atmospheric 

 pressure is inimical to the growth of trees, and there are only to be 

 found a few stunted trees of " Juniperus excelsa" and willows. 



3 m 2 



