1887 ,] 
from Dsam Ling Qyeshe” 
11 
dwelling of a certain demon. It is surrounded by several ramparts built 
of stone, in consequence of which the fort is considered impregnable. 
To the east of Panam, in Upper Nyang, lies the third city of Tibet, called 
Gyan-tse, which is a place of considerable trade. It was formerly the 
capital of Situ Rabtan kun ssang, and called GyaZ-khang-tse. It con¬ 
tains the well-known shrine called Palkhor-chhorten, also Gomang 
Gandhola-chhenpo, built by king Situ Rabtan. The great monastery 
attached to it, called Pa/kb or chhoide, contains eighteen different reli¬ 
gious establishments, such as Gelugpa, Ningma, Karma, Sakyapa 
Dukpa, &c. Within the jurisdiction of Gyan-tse Jong there are several 
other monasteries belonging to different schools, such as Chhoide Dechan 
belonging to Ri-khor-chhosga, and several hermitages ; and the estates of 
many nobles lie in the Gyan-tse district. The largest estates belong to 
Shape Doring and Phala. The city of Gyan-tse contains a large population. 
It formerly contained the seats of Tertons (discoverers of Tantrik scrip¬ 
tures) headed by Ngah-dag-Myang. To the north of Tashi-lhunpo, in 
the valley of the Tsangpo called Tsang-rong, lies the grand temple (her¬ 
mitage) called Wensa Chhoikyi Phodang, built by GyaZwa Lossang 
Tondub. It contains many religious objects collected by that learned 
saint. The Buddhist devotees observe many wonderful figures and 
sacred symbols on the surrounding rocky precipices and hills. Not very 
far from it, and to the south of Tashi-lhunpo, is the hermitage of the 
saint Chhoikyi Dorje, called Garmo Chhoi Jong. There is a small foun¬ 
tain which contains water of wonderful efficacy. It is said to have sprung 
up miraculously. Besides, there are seen the Lingam of Mahadeva and 
Devi, all miraculously carved in rock. On the north bank of the Tsang¬ 
po, opposite to Wensa, are Ho-Yug and Shang. The latter contains the 
monasteries of Dechhen Rabgya and Gahdan Chhoikhorling, all of which 
belong to the Gelugpa school. Shang also includes Namling monastery 
and the seat of the learned saint Khyungpo of olden times, as well as the 
shrine of spirits built by King Tsang-tsan Dorje Ligpa, which has many 
miraculous things in it. The people of that town, owing to the agency 
of spirits residing in it, are possessed of great strength and can perform 
wonderful athletic feats. 
To the east of Shang, in the eastern Tsang-rong valley and the defiles 
of Tsang, lie Rinclihen Pungpa Jong, the castle of Deba Rinchhen Puna- 
of historic fame, Chyam chhen Choide (monastery) and the village of 
Thob-gyaZ (the birthplace of the late Tashi Lama Panchhen Rinpochhe). 
The last contains several religious establishments, the principal of which 
is the Bon monastery of Shendarding. In this division of Tsang-rong 
formerly many famous Lamas and great personages were born, and it 
contained the hermitages of many a saint, but it contains few villages 
and an inconsiderable area of arable soil. 
