1855.] Notes on Eastern Thibet. 231 



empty out your cup, and put it in the breast of your cloak, the 

 usual receptacle of many necessaries to a Bhotia. The snuff bot- 

 tle, thick woollen nose cloth, tea cup, bits of dried flesh, &c. are all 

 huddled here, without remorse, and it is a most filthy receptacle. 



Salts, Minerals, Metals, Sfe. 



1st. Feu, a carbonate of soda, is found all over Dingcham and 

 Thibet, south of the Yaroo ; it appears as a whitish powder on the 

 surface of the soil, never in masses under ground. It is not used 

 to make soap or otherwise in the arts, a small quantity is always 

 put into the water with tea ; it is considered to improve the flavour, 

 and it gives a high brown colour to the decoction. It is generally 

 used in medicine. 



2nd. GJiulla, Borax. I cannot learn that borax is produced in 

 any part of Thibet south of the Taroo river. The general direc- 

 tion of the Taroo is easterly. It is largely imported into Digarchi, 

 whence it is distributed to other parts of Thibet and to India vi& 

 l^ipal, Sikim and Bootan, whence it finds its way to Calcutta and 

 Europe. 



3rd. Sicha, Saltpetre, is produced generally in Thibet and manu- 

 factured at the large sheepfolds where composts of sheep's dung 

 and earth are formed to produce it. 



4th. Mogliee, Sulphur, is not found in Thibet. India exports 

 this article for consumption at Lassa where gunpowder of good 

 quality is made. The charcoal of the poplar — (changma,) and of the 

 willow — (langma,) are considered the best for gunpowder, and this 

 is fortunate, as these two trees alone attain to any magnitude near 



5th. Zencha, common Salt. Three sorts are known in commerce. 



1. Sercha — White and best. 



2. Chdma — Reddish and good. 



3. JBencha — Yellowish and bad, contains soda or magnesia 



and earthy matter. 



All the salt consumed in eastern Thibet is the produce of lakes 



or mines situated to the north of the Taroo river, or comes from 



" Lache," a district lying between Digarchi and Ladak, which is 



traversed by the Taroo. The best information procurable is to the 



2 H 



