TIBET. 
21 1 
rivulets, whose streams unite at a short distance from their sources, 
and run together, to feed a large lake that covers one corner of the 
plain. All the ground about it, was white with an incrustation, saltish 
to the taste : it lay thickest upon the tops of little inequalities in the 
surface; and whether it exudes from the ground, or is the froth blown 
from the lake, I could not at first pronounce ; though on approaching 
nearer, I was inclined to the former opinion, for I found that the water 
had no peculiar flavour. This substance, upon inquiry, I understood 
to be of considerable use: it is collected, and employed for cleansing 
and washing woollen and cotton cloths, as a substitute for soap, to 
which they are utter strangers. 
We halted a while, at a small village named Dochai, and partook 
of some refreshments which our conductor had provided. Lubchea 
Goomba, a large monastery, was seen immediately opposite, seated 
amidst rocks, which, as well as those which are ranged on the other 
side, protrude their bases into the lake, and are bordered with a white 
foam, produced by its agitated waves. 
We advanced along the borders of the lake, which was named 
Ramtchieu, with bare rocky hills on our left, much shattered and torn 
by severe frost. The stone composing them, was of the colour of 
rusty iron; and small detached cubical pieces, covered ail the ground 
below, to a considerable distance. 
The banks of this lake were perforated with the innumerable bur¬ 
rows of a small animal to which they gave the name of rat : we chanced 
to see some of them running along, and sitting near the edge of the 
burrows. They were larger than a musk rat, of a cinereous gray, 
E e 
