MANASAROVARA IN (JN-DE'S. 465 



fallen From the face of the rock, which in many parts was 300 feet 

 perpendicular. Thefe Hones frequently wafhed by the furf, and 

 glazed by the fun, afforded a very unfafe footing : however, at this 

 time it required only care to prevent falling, which would have en- 

 dangered a limb, as fome of the fpaces betwixt the flones were very 

 deep. The deep band was here and there cut by profound and pre- 

 cipitous water courfes, now dry ; but occafionally ferving to convey the 

 fnow water from the high tables upon the head of the bank, into the lake. 

 The front of the bank at the height of from ten to thirty yards, had houfes 

 of loofe ftems and wood built in receffes upon ledges ; but, as there were 

 no ftairs to them, I thought theminacceffible to human beings, except by 

 means of ladders, of which I fawnone. They were inhabited, as I beheld 

 fmoke iflue from many, and are I prefume the fecluded retreats of mo- 

 naftic reclufes of both [qk.cs. One of thefe nuns accofted me by the name 

 of Guni Lama, and returning along with me, pointed to one of the rock 

 habitations, which I concluded to belong to her, and appeared by her 

 geftures to invite me to it. However I was £0 ungallant as to refufe 

 the lady's hofpitality : for I cannot fuppofe that (he had any other mo- 

 tive for her civility than to offer me refreflhrnent or to afk charity, the 

 cufpofition to which, the view of the inconveniences fhe was fubje&ed 

 to, by fuch a lodging, might poffibly excite. A weather-beaten, face, 

 half dripped of its natural covering by the joint aciion of a hot fun 

 and cold wind, bliftered lips, a long bufhy beard, and muftachios, in 

 a country where the former is carefully plucked out, with a gait not of 

 the firmed, had probably raifed emotions of pity, and induced her to 

 think I might (land in need of repofe. Be it as it may, with the mod 

 cordial falutation and expreffion of thanks by dumb (how, I took my 

 leave, and went on with my furvey. 



After an hour's walk, the beach changed to a deep fand, in fome 



5* 



