468' , A JOURNEY TO LAKE 



which was the Krijhnd fweeping down a ravine between two high 

 mountains of the Himalaya range, and expanding like a fheet as it 

 approached the verge of the lake ; but not a break, nor any other ap- 

 pearance indicated the efcape of any river or even of any fmall 

 flream from it.— Although this was clear enough to the naked eye, I 

 employed a telefcope * and this as well as the evidence of two fervants 

 who gave me an account of what they faw, fhewed that the Man- 

 farowar fends out no rivers to the South, North, or Weft. 



At half pail four I began to return, and defcended to the fhore, 

 which was a bed of round pebbles that had fallen from the fide of the 

 mountains. Large maffes of thefe (tones imbedded in a hard cement 

 like old firm mortar, in fome places obflrucled the path, which appa- 

 rently was more ufed b)r yaks than trodden by the feet of man. I was in 

 hopes, that I mould' be able to reach the N. W. corner before the fall 

 of night; and by afcending the high Table Land, that formed the fum- 

 mit of the Northern bank, avoid the deep fand and dangerous ilony 

 beach which I had traverfed in the morning. Walking upon a flat 

 furface in fome degree relieved the active aching and fpafms of the 

 thighs and legs brought on by great exertion in climbing and descend- 

 ing, but did not take away the forenefs of the mufcles. However I 

 laboured to the utmoft extent of my power, but was much impeded 

 in my progrefs by a ftrong wind which poured into the lake with vafl 

 feopetuofity from the We ft s and rendered breathing difficult. Since morn- 

 ing the wind had fhifted four times, and had only heai a little flill for 

 half an hour. In fpite of all my endeavours I could not attain the gra- 

 nite rocks to the S, of the Lama's houfe before night came on; and by 

 another hidden change of the wind, the furf was thrown fo high on the 

 fhore, as to efface all traces of the path, and leave fcarcely room enough 

 £o pafs between the face of the rock and the water„—In a fmall recefs 



