io6 Mr . Saunders’s Account of the 
In Thibet the natives are more fubjeft to fore eyes and blind* 
nefs than in Boutan. The high winds, fandy foil, and glare 
from the reflection of the fun, both from the fnow and fand, 
account for this. 
I have dwelt long on this fubjeCt, becaufe I think the know- 
ledge and obfervations of thefe people on the difeafes of their 
country, with their medical practice, keep pace with a refine- 
ment and flate of civilization, which ftruck me with wonder, and 
no doubt will give rife to much curious {peculation, when 
known to be the manners of a people holding fo little inter- 
courfe with what we term civilized nations. 
Dec. x* Left Tifhoolurnbo, and found the cold increafe 
every day as we advanced to the fouthward, mod of the run- 
ning waters frozen, and the pools covered with ice ftrong 
enough to carry. Our thermometer having only the fcale as 
low as 1 6°, we could not precifely determine the degree of 
cold, the quickfilver being under that every morning. The 
froft is certainly never fo intenfe in Great-Britain. On our 
return to the lakes the 14th, we found them deferted 'by the 
water fowl, and were informed that they had been one folid 
piece of ice fince the 10th of November. Here we refumed 
our amufement of fkating, to the great aftonifhment of the 
natives and Bengal fervants. 
On the 17th we re-entered Boutan, and in fix days more 
arrived at Punukha by Paraghon. No fnow or froft to be met 
with in Boutan, except towards the tops of their higheft: 
mountains ; the thermometer rifing to 36° in the morning, 
and 48° at noon. 
Took leave of the Debe Rajah, and on the 12th arrived 
at Buxaduar. 
Calcutta, Feb. 17, 17840 
2 
AS 
