1 74 Narrative of a Journey to Clio Lagan, fyc. [Aug. 



Turner (Chapter VII. Teshoo Loomboo) was at a loss to understand 

 the object of this crowning to the house walls which he found equally 

 prevalent in the province of Chang ; in Gnari it is intended merely as a 

 coping to protect the walls from rain and snow, flag-stones suitable to 

 that purpose being rarely procurable. The annual renewal of these 

 cornices, together with a general repair and ornamenting of houses, 

 forms one of the observances of the " Lo-sar" festival, the Tibetan new- 

 year's day, which many possibly have some affinity to the new year's 

 day of China, the principal festival of that nation. The ground-floors 

 of the houses here are appropriated chiefly to cattle and whatever else 

 cannot find room in the dwelling apartments of the family in the upper 

 story. 



"We heard and saw some signs of life indoors ; musical noises and 

 voices, lights and shadows ; but ourselves passed unnoticed except by 

 the dogs, who did their best to give the alarm. 



The harvest here, which is mostly barley and peas, had been all reaped 

 and carried; the fields were quite bare, but showed marks of careful 

 tillage, being intersected with a multitude of artificial watercourses for 

 irrigation. Pruang is in advance of Byans with its harvest : this must 

 not be attributed to superior temperature of climate, but rather to the 

 greater amount of sunshine enjoyed by the former, the valley being 

 more open, and the far smaller quantity of rain and snow on the north 

 side of the Himalaya, and something I believe to the palpable neglect 

 of the Bhotias in their agriculture, which they postpone to their trading 

 affairs, leaving the tillage of their fields almost entirely to their women. 



The elevation of Toi'yon may be estimated at 14,500 feet, viz. 250 

 feet below our last encampment. 



This village is the head-quarters of one of the three Makhpun of 

 Pruang, who are the hereditary superiors of as many small circles of 

 villages, responsible for collection of revenue and keeping of the public 

 peace, but entirely subordinate to the Zungpun of Taklakhar. 



Beyond the village was an easy descent for a mile, but the road very 

 stony, by which, after crossing a small rivulet, we reached the left bank 

 of the Karnali. 



The river here appeared to be about as rapid as the Kali in the 

 middle of Byans, and in width such as to be spanned by a Sanga, 50 

 feet long from pier to pier, and of the construction common on the 



