Produdlions of Boutan and Thibet. 81 
the natives whom I had aiv opportunity of feeing. They 
fcarcely, however, admit that Buxaduar is unhealthy at any 
feafon of the year. After allowing for their prejudice, and 
the pofiibility of the natives fuffering but little from the bad 
feafons, I cannot help thinking, that Buxaduar muft be un- 
healthy, at leaft to ftrangers, from the month of May till 
towards the end of September. It lies high, but is over- 
topped by the furrounding mountains, covered with forefts of 
trees and underwood. In all climates, where the influence of 
the fun is great, this is a never-failing caufe of bad air. The 
exhalation that takes place from fo great a furface in the day- 
time falls after funfet in the form of dew, rendering the 
air raw, damp, and chilly, even in the moft fultry climates. 
The thermometer at Buxaduar was never, at two o’clock in 
the afternoon, above 82°, or below 73 0 . 
In the neighbourhood of Buxaduar there are feveral excellent 
fprings of water, fome of them with lefs impregnation of any 
fort than I ever met with ; the niceft teft fcarcely produced 
the leparation of a fenfible quantity of earthy matter. Such, 
waters are generally to be diftinguhhed by the tafte, which 
is infipid and unpleafant. When thefe fprings could be traced 
to their fource, they funk the thermometer eight or ten de- 
grees below the temperature of the atmofphere. 
Road to Murifhong, May 22 and 23. In afcending 
the hill from Buxaduar there is to be feen much of an 
imperfefl quartz, of various forms and colour, having in 
fome places the appearance of marble ; but from chemical 
experiments, it was found to pofl'efs very different properties. 
This fort of quartz, when of a pure white, and free from 
any metallic colouring matter, is ufed as an ingredient in por- 
celain. I . have not feen any that promifes to anfwer that pur- 
pofe better than what is to be met with in the mountains near 
Vo l. LXXIX. M Buxaduar. 
