43 S A JOURNEY TO LAKE 



channels, leaving intermediate ridges, which from difference of hardnefs 

 or being acted upon by the water in different directions, was fafhioned 

 into great diverfity of figure, in fome places reprefenting caflles, for- 

 tifications, houfes, and maffes which bafik defcription. 



We have pafled three villages to-day, all painted, and of different co- 

 lours. Thefe are winter refidences of the inhabitants of Ddbd and Dong* 



Just at the point when we began afcending, the valley narrows 

 fuddenly to a channel only jufi. fufficient to give paffage to the water. 

 The hills, which are dated to be rich in gold, are granite of mixed 

 colours, the red predominating, with horizontal ftrata of quartz and 

 fmall fibrous veins of a white material like agate, defcending perpendi- 



' ' ' ...... - ... iv ( , Jv 



cularly r : where the rock has been expofed to the weather, its fur face is 

 broken into fmall pieces, having little more cohefion than clay burnt in 

 the fun. This decompofition is effeeled, I fuppofe in confequence of 

 £hc different materials of which the mafs is compofed s not being inti- 

 mately united, and water entering the fiffures where it congeals,, occ 3 

 .bur (Is the (Iruclure, .'. i 



■ . . -■ i ' 



The gold here is feparated by warning, there being no fuel in the 



neighbourhood ; or rather no wood; for from the appearance of fome 

 of the hills, I apprehend that they hold coal. In the bed of the Setlej, 

 were many large flowering fhrubs, which I take to be a fpecies of the 

 tameirfk. I have found it from three inches high to eight feet, in fitii- 

 ations more or lefs favorable. The yaks and goats were very fond of 

 the foliage. I obferyed, that the bite of the yak is quicker and nearer 

 the ground than any other fpecies of neat cattle I am acquainted with* 

 a peculiarity which fits them for the fhort and fcanty herbage of m 

 tine country. 



