TIBET. 
215 
the same purpose. Near our tents were a few trees, willows I believe, 
which were the first we had met with in Tibet; they might easily have 
been mistaken for tall weeds. A shallow rivulet of clear water, rippled 
over a pebbly bottom, close by; it harboured multitudes of fish in its 
deepest parts, which were easily taken, and afforded us a most excel¬ 
lent dish for dinner. 
A Tibet village by no means makes a handsome figure. The pea¬ 
sant’s house is of a mean construction, and resembles a brick kiln in 
shape and size, more exactly than any thing to which I can com¬ 
pare it. It is built of rough stones, heaped upon each other without 
cement, and, on account of the strong winds that perpetually prevail 
here, it has never more than three or four small apertures to admit 
light. The roof is a flat terrace, surrounded with a parapet wall two 
or three feet high; on this, are commonly placed piles of loose stones, 
intended to support a small flag, or the branch of a tree; or else as a 
fastening for a long line, with scraps of paper, or white rag, strung 
upon it like the tail of a kite; this being stretched from one house to 
another, is a charm against evil genii, as infallible in its efficacy, as 
horse shoes nailed upon a threshold, or as straws thrown across the 
path of a reputed witch. 
This was a bleak looking place, and there was hardly the appear¬ 
ance of any thing animated about it. Being indolently disposed, and 
prompted merely by curiosity, I strolled alone among the houses; 
and, seeing every thing still and quiet, I turned into one of the stone 
enclosures, which serve as folds for cattle. The instant I entered the 
gate, to my astonishment, up started a huge dog, big enough, if his 
