TO TAZEDO, ON THE CHINESE FRONTIER. 519 



solid state, made up into balls, four times a day — and with it tea is drank. 

 The night meal or dinner, consists of curry and rice, and bread. For 

 riding, mules and ponies are used by the traveller from Kulti to this place 

 — and the same animals are the ordinary means of transport for goods 

 and baggage within those limits. The animals brought from Kutti must 

 be changed at Tingri, and there you may hire other ponies and mules, 

 and likewise camels, for the conveyance of yourself and goods from Tingri 

 forwards. 



14th Stage, of eight cos to Shegar. A cos from Tingri occurs a 

 river of about thirty paces wide, and about five feet deep. Beyond this 

 river, at the distance of a cos, is a village named MSmun. Six more cos 

 of plain bring you to Shegar. Shegar is a town of about nine thousand 

 houses — Bhotias are the sole inhabitants. The Lamas are very numerous, 

 and there is a famous place of worship called Chamdzhee. Shegar is built 

 in tiers, running from the base to the summit of a small hill. The hill of 

 Shegar is esteemed holy ground, and in its bowels a rich mine of gold is 

 said to be contained. The mouth of the mine is closed by a door of gold, 

 over which many Lamas constantly watch. It is said that the mountain 

 will, on some future great occasion, give up its treasure, which, meanwhile, 

 is to be strictly guarded. The key of the golden door of the gold mine is at 

 present in the hands of the Lama of Lahassa, the local guardians having once 

 attempted a theft upon the sacred deposit. Such is the tale of the place. 

 A thousand soldiers are stationed at Shegar, by the Ruler of Lahassa. 



15th Stage, of eight cos, to Lu-lu. The whole w r ay is a plain. The 

 pastures are abundant, and the butter (which is procured from cows only, 

 and never from buffaloes — there being none of the latter in Shot) re- 

 nowned for its excellence. Lu-hi is but a small village, but there is a 

 small party of soldiers stationed there, and also two horses belonging to 

 the public post. 



