Productions of Boutan and Thibet. ^ r 
a happy climate ! The iky ferene and clear, without a cloud ; 
and fo confident are they of the continuance of this weather, 
that their crop is thrown together in a convenient part of the 
field, without any cover, to remain till they can find time to 
threfh it out, 
Before we reached Tiffoolumboo found fome elms and afh- 
trees. 
The hills in Thibet have, from their general appearance, 
flrong marks of containing thofe foffils that are inimical to 
vegation ; fuch are moft of the ores of metal and pyritical 
matter. 
The country, properly explored, promifes better than any 1 
have feen to gratify the curiofity of a pbilofopher, and reward 
the labours of a mineralift. Accident, more than a fpirit of 
enterprife and enquiry, has already difcovered the prefence of 
many valuable ores and minerals in Thibet. The fir fie in this 
lift is defervedly gold. They find it in large quantities, and 
frequently very putt'. In the form of gold- dull it is found in 
the beds of rivers, and at their feveral bendings, generally- 
attached to fmall pieces of fione, with every appearance of its 
having been part of a larger mafs. They find it fometimes in 
large mafles, lumps, and irregular veins ; the adhering fione 
is generally flint or quartz, and I have fometimes feen a 
half-formed, impure fort of precious ftone in the mafs. 
By a common procefs for the purification of gold, I ex- 
traded 12 per cent . of refufe from fome gold-duff, and on 
examination found it to be fand and filings of iron,, which laff 
was not likely to have been with it in its native (late, but pro- 
bably employed for the purpofe of adulteration. Two days 
journey from Tiffoolumboo there is a lead mine. The ore is 
much the fame as that found in Derbvfhire, mineralized by 
fulphur, 
