2 90 
T I B E T. 
indulging an unreasonable partiality, I thought I might claim for my- 
countrymen, a decided superiority ; and I ventured to assert that much 
of the knowledge of the Chinese had been derived from European 
missionaries, one of whom I was assured at this moment held the 
highest station amongst the astronomers of China. He promised, as 
some testimonial of the ancient knowledge of the Chinese, to give me 
their register of past eclipses, which I afterwards received, though 
without any satisfactory explanation of its contents. 
The burning well of Brahma-koond 3 , near Chittagong, gave occasion 
to some observations and inquiries; I found, by their prejudices, that 
they esteemed it as holy. I have been informed, that a vivid flame is 
often seen to play upon the surface of the water in this well, arising 
probably from the spontaneous combustion of mephitic gas. 
Assam and its inhabitants became our next subject of conversation ; 
with this region, it should seem, they hold but an extremely limited 
intercourse. A large reservoir upon its eastern border, formed, I 
suppose, by the Berhampooter, on emerging from the mountains, 
appears to be held by them in some degree of veneration. 
Many other topics succeeded in their turn. I was dressed in the 
warm embroidered vest which the Regent had provided for me. They 
enjoined me to be extremely cautious in guarding against the ap¬ 
proaching cold; and informed me that they had the Regent’s command, 
to contribute by every possible means to my comfort and satisfaction, 
expressing a hope that they should be happy in frequent opportunities 
of meeting me. 
a Brahma-koond, fountains of Brahma. 
