950 



THIBET. 



reaches its sacred banks. The heads of the great Cliinese rivers, Hoangho and Kiang, are in 

 eastern Thibet, and those of the JMecan are thought to be in the same region. 



3. JMinerals. Gold is found in great quantities, and very pure ; sometimes in the form of 

 gold dust in the beds of rivers, and sometimes in large masses and irregular veins. There is a 

 lead mine about two days' journey from Teeshoo Loomboo, which probably contains silver. 

 Cinnabar, abounding in quicksilver, rock-salt, and tincal, or crude borax, are likewise among 

 the mineral productions of this country ; the last is found in inexhaustible quantities. It is ob- 

 tained in a lake north of Teeshoo Loomboo, where it is found crystalized, and taken up in 

 large masses, that are broken up for convenience of transportation, and exposed to dry. Al- 

 though the mineral has been long collected here, there are no signs of a diminution of the 

 quantity ; it is probably constantly forming by fresh deposits from the water. In Thibet, as 

 in the west, borax is used for soldering, and as a flux in the fusion of gold and silver. 



4. Climate. The climate of Thibet is cold and bleak in the extreme, from the severe ef- 

 fects of which the inhabitants are obliged to seek refuge in the sheltered valleys and hollows, 

 or amidst the warmest aspects of the rocks. In the temperature of the seasons, however, a 

 remarkable uniformity prevails, as well as in their periodical duration and return. 



5. Towns. Lassa or Hlassa, the spiritual and temporal capital of Thibet, the Rome of 

 Central Asia, is the residence of the Dalia-lama, and of the Chinese viceroy, and it contains 

 a vast and magnificent temple or palace, surrounded by an immense bazar. Lassa is the seat 

 of a great transit trade, and it contains a fixed population of about 100,000, besides a large 

 floating population of traders and pilgrims. The summer residence of the Lama, on the height 

 of Pootala, several miles from the city, is 350 feet high, and contains 10,000 rooms, the state 

 apartments being at the top of the building, which is 7 stories in height. The towers and 

 spires are covered with gold or silver, and there are innumerable images of Baddha of gold, 

 silver, and bronze. In the surrounding plain there are 22 other temples, all richly adorned, 

 and some of them almost rivaling that of Pootala. The whole number of priests here main- 

 tained at the public charge, is stated to exceed 90,000. 



Teeshoo Loomboo or Lubrong, the seat of the Teeshoo Lama, and the capital of that part 

 of Thibet which is immediately subject to his authority, is, in fact, a large monastery, consist- 

 ing of three or four hundred houses, inhabited by 4,000 gylongs (a kind of monks or priests), 

 beside temples, mausoleums, and the palace of the pontitf, with the residences of the various 

 subordinate officers, both ecclesiastical and civil, belonging to the court. It is included within 

 the hollow face of a high rock, and its buildings are all of stone, none less than two stories high, 

 flat-roofed, and crowned with a parapet. 



6. JManufactures. Commerce. The manufactures of Thibet are rude, consisting principally 

 of shawls and woolen cloth. The exports, which go chiefly to China and Bengal, consist of 

 gold-dust, musk, rock-salt, wool, and lamb-skins ; in return for which, silk, satin, gold and sil- 

 ver brocade, tea, tobacco, and furs of various kinds, are received from China ; and from Ben- 

 gal, the productions of that country, and a variety of English commodities and manufactures. 



The people are rather stout and hardy, and of a ruddy complexion, for the mountain breezes 

 bestow health and vigor. They are of various distinct tribes, litde known. The language is 

 of the Sanscrit stock, and is considered by the Chinese much superior to their own in sound. 

 They have a great number of sacred books in their monasteries, but little is known of their 

 contents. The Thibetans were found to be acquainted with Jupiter's satellites and Saturn's 

 ring, and must, therefore, have made some progress in astronomical science. 



The people of Thibet have made considerable progress in civilization, but the sciences are 

 neglected. The literature is chiefly connected with the religion, and, together with the lan- 

 guage, is of Hindoo origin. The houses are meanly constructed, and built of rough stones, 

 with a few apertures to admit light. The people may in general be described as mild and gen- 

 tle, and, though sunk in superstitions, free from many of the sanguinary customs of the Hindoos. 

 The religion is that of Boodha, which has, however, undergone some changes. The Grand 

 Lama, or supreme pontiff, it is supposed, is an incarnation of the Deity under different human 

 forms. This creed includes a belief in the transmigration of souls, a future state, purgatory, in- 

 vocation of saints, image worship, confession, absolution, pardon, celibacy, holy water, and 

 various observances of the Romish church. 



There are a great many recluses and temples. There are also a great many subordinate 

 lamas or priests, who assume the whole business of prayer. They sell a certain number of 

 prayers, which are written out and attached to the cylinder of a mill, and every turn is supposed 



