TIBET. 
371 
earth, by cracking and opening in uncommon chasms, is said to have 
discovered such an abundance of gold, that the quantity collected, 
reduced the price of a pootree, to nine inclermillees. As these precious 
metals are merely representatives of labour, and commodities, there 
will consequently follow great fluctuations in the profits of commerce; 
the balance, however, will at all times be found on the side of the 
merchant. 
Those articles of trade which are next in importance, amongst the 
natural productions of Tibet, are, musk, tincal, goats’ hair, and rock, 
salt. The first of these articles used to be transported through the 
country of the Choubeis Rajas, and through Nipal, by the way of 
Benares, into the upper parts of Hindostan, and the dominions of the 
Marrattas; but as musk of late has gained much reputation in medi¬ 
cine, and as there is reason to believe, that none but what is greatly 
adulterated, finds its way to Europe, it, doubtless, must be an impor¬ 
tant object with the faculty, to receive it in its native purity. 
Bootan, Nipal, Bengal, and Hindostan, are supplied with tincal 
from Tibet. Its value is little more than that of the labour employed 
in digging it from the bed of a lake, in which it is deposited, at the 
distance of about fifteen days’ journey from Teshoo Loomboo. 
The hair of the goats is carried to Cashmeer, and is that superior 
sort, from which shawls are manufactured. 
The demand for salt, is in the consumption of Nipal and Bootan. 
Here are also several mines of lead, but, as it is a metal that enters 
not into their common utensils of life, and is of little use in the coun¬ 
try, they are totally neglected. As lead, however, is generally found 
3 B 
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