TIBET. 
£50 
to tolerate, but even to recommend. Thus we find, that neither the 
practice of polygamy in India, nor of polyandry in Tibet, is without 
its advocates. 
The influence of this custom on the manners of the people, as far as 
I could trace, has not been unfavourable. Humanity, and an unar¬ 
tificial gentleness of disposition, are the constant inheritance of a 
Tibetian. 
I never saw these qualities possessed by any people in a more emi¬ 
nent degree. Without being servilely officious, they are always 
obliging; the higher ranks .are unassuming; the inferior, respectful in 
their behaviour; nor are they at all deficient in attention to the female 
sex; but, as we find them moderate in all their passions, in this respect, 
also, their conduct is equally remote from rudeness and adulation. 
Comparatively with their southern neighbours, the women of Tibet 
enjoy an elevated station in society. To the privileges of unbounded 
liberty, the wife here adds the character of mistress of the family, and 
companion of her husbands. The company of all, indeed, she is not 
at all times entitled to expect. Different pursuits, either agricultural 
employments, or mercantile speculations, may occasionally cause the 
temporary absence of each; yet whatever be the result, the profit of 
the labourer flows into the common store; and when he returns, what¬ 
ever may have been his fortune, he is secure of a grateful welcome to 
a social home. 
To descant upon established usages, that have existed far beyond 
the date of any written records, or the more obscure traces of tradition, 
with a view to discover their origin, or object, is indeed entering upon 
