TO TAZEDO, ON THE CHINESE FRONTIER. 521 



upon which ply two ferry-men. From the river to Mopchd, is a plain of 

 four cos. The neighbourhood of Mopchd is well stocked with game, 

 such as deer, kings, (wild asses,) and niaras, (wild sheep ;) the niara is 

 in size equal to a small cow ; hoofs like horses ; tail similar to the yak's ; 

 bearded like a goat — on the head, horns three feet long, and more than 

 half a foot broad at the base. Owing to the enormous size and peculiar 

 shape of its horns, this animal frequently cannot eat without throwing 

 itself sideways on the ground. The niara's horns are much used for 

 vessels to contain liquor. 



19th Stage, seven cos, to Dungd-sHu. The whole way is over a 

 level and tolerably fertile country, bounded on either hand, at no great 

 distance by mountains — which, indeed, similarly confine the road all the 

 way from Tingri to Digarchi. Dunga-setu is a hamlet of five or six 

 houses of JBhotia cultivators. 



20th Stage, of four cos, to Sdkya. To Sdkya is four cos. It lies a 

 little out of the direct line of route to the right, but being a great city, full 

 of wonders, it was visited. It stands at the base of a mountain, but is, 

 nevertheless, exposed to an inconceivably violent current of wind — -the 

 houses are flat-roofed, and the roofs of such excellent quality as never to 

 admit one drop of rain. They are made thus : first, rafters or beams of 

 wood— then planks of wood — then a deep layer of raw clay, which is 

 exceedingly well-beaten and amalgamated — lastly, and over all, a coat- 

 ing composed of a soft yellow stone, pounded and mixed with water like 

 limestone. The doors are like those of Indian houses : the walls within 

 plastered ; without, washed with powdered charcoal, whereby all the 

 houses of Sdkya exhibit a perfectly black exterior. The people wear 

 woollen, like all B hollas — but dyed black, which is a distinction proper 

 to themselves. The women ornament their heads with strings of couries: 

 the men wear ear-rings of turquoises. Satu and tea, and flesh, and spirit 



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