3 90 
IiOOTAN. 
distinguished by the taste, which is insipid and unpleasant. When 
these springs could be traced to their source, they sunk the thermo¬ 
meter eight or ten degrees below the temperature of the atmosphere. 
May 22 and 23. In ascending the hill from Buxaduar, there is to 
be seen much of an imperfect quartz, of various forms and colour, 
having in some places the appearance of marble; but from chemical 
experiments, it was found to possess very different properties. This 
sort of quartz, when of a pure white, and free from any metallic 
colouring matter, is used as an ingredient in porcelain. I have not 
seen any that promises to answer that purpose, better than what is to 
be met with, in the mountains near Buxaduar. It is known to mine- 
ralists in that state, by the name of quartz gritstone. The rock which 
forms the basis of these mountains, dips in almost every direction, and 
is covered with a rich and fertile soil, but in no place level enough to 
be cultivated. Many European plants are to be met with on the road 
to Murishong ; many different sorts of mosses, fern, wild thyme, 
peaches, willow, chickweed, and grasses common to the more southern 
parts of Europe ; nettles, thistles, dock, strawberry, raspberry, and 
many destructive creepers, some peculiar to Europe. 
Murishong d is the first pleasant and healthy spot to be met with on 
this side of Boutan. It lies high, and much of the ground about it, is 
cleared and cultivated; the soil, rich and fertile, produces good crops. 
The only plant now under culture, is a species of the polygonum of 
Linnzeus, producing a triangular seed, nearly the size of barley, and 
the common food of the inhabitants. It was now the beginning of 
d Murichom. 
