220 
TIBET. 
force of prejudice. The table was spread with raw joints of fresh 
mutton, and some of the same, boiled. We certainly preferred the 
boiled mutton, which was cold, and exquisitely tender and sweet; but 
the Tibetians shewed a different taste : and though both of us, were 
equally pleased, neither envied the opposite propensity of the other ; 
but we were all afterwards equally disposed to join in deep draughts 
of chong and a social pipe, in the use of which, practice had now ren¬ 
dered me tolerably expert. 
A road to Lassa branches off between these hills, east by south from 
Gangamaar, which village is subject to that government. We con¬ 
tinued our journey nearly north, and about a mile and a half farther 
on, met with a hot well, which was surrounded with a stone wall, 
and covered with canvas. Within the enclosure, a tent was pitched, 
which seemed crowded with people. I soon learned, that the virtues 
attributed to this spring, were various and powerful, not being confined 
to invalids of any particular description, but extending to all the sick 
and aged, whether they seek a cure from infirmity or from disease. 
✓ 
The mode of treament, is to continue immerged in the water, for some 
minutes up to the chest, and on coming out to be covered with warm 
clothing : this is repeated five or six times a day. The mercury of the 
thermometer stood in the open air at 44°; when plunged into the water 
it rose to 88°. The vapour arising from the surface had a sulphureous 
smell; and on all sides, to the extent of two hundred yards, was seen 
much white incrustation. 
The surface of the ground on which we travelled, was a mass of 
hard matter, like scoria; it sounded hollow, as the horses trod upon 
