257 
1898.] S. C. Das — Travels on the Shores of Lake Yamdo-Croft. 
from her house, or from the island, or journeys into the city of Lhasa, 
a procession precedes her. Mr. Bogle, it will be remembered, made the 
acquaintance of this female divinity; and Dr. Hamilton cured her of 
an illness, and visited her constantly:— 
“ The holidays at the new year drew nigh, and the Lama’s relations 
came from parts of the country to pay their respects to him. His 
cousin the Teshu-tzay Debo (Tashi-tse Deba), with his wife and family, 
his nieces, the two annis whom I saw at Teshu-tzay, their mother Chum 
Kusho; their true brothers, Pyn Kushos; and a half-sister Durjay 
Paumo (Dorje Pliamo), a female Lama, who is abbess of monastery near 
the Piate Lake, and is animated by the spirit of a holy lady who died 
many hundred years ago. ****** 
“ They stayed about two months at Teshu Lumbo, during which 
time Mr. Hamilton cured Durjay Paumo and Chum Kusho of complaints 
which they had long been subject to. * * * * * * 
“ The mother went with me into the apartment of Durjay Paumo, 
who was attired in a Gylong’s dress, her arms bare from the shoulders 
and sitting cross-legged upon a low cushion. She is also the daughter 
of the Lama’s brother, but by a different wife. She is about seven- 
and-twenty, with small Chinese features, delicate, though not regular, 
fine eyes and teeth ; her complexion fair, but wan and sickly ; and an 
expression of langour and melancholy in her countenance, which I 
believe, is occasioned by the joyless life that she leads. She wears her 
hair, a privilege granted to no other vestal I have seen; it is combed 
back without any ornaments, and falls in tresses upon her shoulders. 
Her chanea , like the Lama’s, is supposed to convey a blessing, and I 
did not fail to receive it. After making presents and obeisances, I 
kneeled down, and stretching out her arm, which is equal to “ the finest 
lady in the land,” she laid her hand upon my head.” 1 
Mr. Manning is the only Englishman who ever saw Lake Palti, 
and it appears from his narrative that he was not aware that the hills on 
the opposite shore formed an island. In his diary he wrote :— 
“ Pursuing our course, and gradually descending, the valley at 
length opened into a large stony plain, at the end of which stood a 
considerable town on the margin of an extensive lake, or little sea, 
as it is called. From the opposite or further margin of the lake rose 
diminutive mountains in a continued chain, which bounded the whole 
prospect in front.” 
On the 1st of January 1866, the Pandit, trained and sent on his 
travels by Colonel Montgomerie arrived at the banks of the Palti or 
Yamdok-chu lake at a small post called Piahte-jong. 
• Markham*s Missioti of George Bogle , pp. 244 & 245. 
J, i. 33 
i 
