SPITI VALLEY, &c. 249 



ardent in an atmosphere, which, by its want of humidity, excoriates to 

 brittleness every trace of vegetation, and parches to a ruddy and scabrous 

 coarseness the skin of the face, especially in the females. The people of 

 both sexes are naturally indifferent to shame, and alienation of chastity 

 in the females is here a mercenary interest purchaseable upon the lowest 

 terms. In figure they are stout, waddling and dumpy ; in address, 

 presuming and indecorous, but much of their open familiarity is the 

 offspring of immoderate curiosity. In face they are not beautiful, even 

 when young ; when past their climacteric, very unseemly ; and when 

 old, a picture of horrid ugliness ; not regardless of the aid of artificial 

 charms, their hair glistening witii rancid oil hangs loosely round their 

 sun-burnt necks : sometimes it is woven into tresses which braid the 

 contour of the face, but is commonly unregarded and blows out in the 

 wind, giving them a shaggy appearance like wild beasts : their black 

 greasy heads are embellished with lapis lazuli; their sun-burnt necks 

 with amber and coral, their wrists and ancles with snow white shells, 

 and a girdle of beads and other trinkets, all shining in the sun"s rays. 

 The men, without any superior pretensions, have their peculiarities less 

 out of place, but they are black, greasy and imbecile, without any noble 

 qualities whatever. Poverty and llicir insulated situation have denied 

 them all pride of distinction, and subdued their feelings to one uniform 

 level. Such is their general character, and it will apply to the whole 

 nation of Thibetan Tartars. The absence of female chastity is a singular 

 commentary to their honest and pacific conduct and the other social 

 qualities of their natural society. 



The country is every where broken into s1rc\) arid jicaks, uniform 

 sterility covering alike the mountains and ilu" vallics. There arc none of 

 those fine contrasts of scenery which wc Ix^hold m the soulliward regions 

 of the Jlimalai/a, where all liic bcaiuie s and ail ihc honors of Nature arc 



u ;} 



