2 70 TIBET-. 
cumstance which shews their limited knowledge of the sciences, both 
of geography and astronomy. 
The Gosein alluded to by the Regent, whose name is Pranpooree, 
exhibited so extraordinary an instance of religious penance, that I cannot 
resist the temptation of relating some particulars of his life. 
Having been adopted by an Hindoo devotee, and educated by him 
in the rigid tenets of his religion, he was yet young, when he com* 
menced the course of his extraordinary mortifications. The first vow, 
which the plan of life, he had chosen to himself, induced him to make, 
was to continue perpetually upon his legs, and neither to sit down 
upon the ground, nor lie down to rest, for the space of twelve years. 
All this time, he told me, he had employed in wandering through 
different countries. When 1 inquired how he took the indispensable 
refreshment of sleep, when wearied with fatigue, he said, that at first, to 
prevent his falling, he used to be tied with ropes, to some tree or post; 
but that this precaution, after some time, became unnecessary, and he 
was able to sleep standing, without such support. 
The complete term of this first penance being expired, the next he 
undertook was to hold his hands, locked in each other, over his head, 
the fingers of one hand, dividing those of the other, for the same space 
of twelve years. Whether this particular period is chosen in com¬ 
pliment to the twelve signs of the zodiac, or to the Indian cycle 
of twelve years, I cannot decide. He was still determined, not to 
dwell in any fixed abode; so that before the term of this last vow could 
be accomplished, he had travelled over the greater part of the continent 
of Asia, He first set out, by crossing the Peninsula of India, through 
