1887.] 
from u Dsam Ling Gyeshe 
27 
chiefs. In faithfulness and attachment they are far superior to other 
Tibetans. Devoted to the verge of bigotry in matters of religion, they 
are uncivil, harsh, and mischievous to strangers. To their acquaintances 
they show extraordinary fidelity, usefulness, and attachment. 
To the east of Tongkor lie Dokhog, Jikhog, and Markhog, all three 
being included within Amdo. In Dokhog is the monastery of Dodub- 
chhen Gonpa, which formerly belonged to the Gelugpa school. In 
Jikhog is the monastery of Jam thang (Gonpa), whieh belonged to the 
Jonang school till the extinction of that sect under the edict of the Dalai 
Lama. Markhog is the fatherland of the Golog Mussalmans (probably 
Tangyut of Colonel Prejevalsky). From there if you proceed further 
to the east for some distance, you will arrive at Machhu Pomra (the 
temple of a deity), situated on the bank of the river Machu, at the back 
of which is a lofty snowy mountain. There lepers are said to obtain a 
complete cure by rolling their bodies on the slope of the snowy mountain, 
and by drinking its glacial water. To the north-east of the great 
Machhu is Arig (brigand tribe) land, to the east of which is Jogetoima. 
To the south of Joge, in the neighbourhood of GyaZ Pong, are the lands 
of five tribes called Nakhog, containing a tolerably large population. 
Both Arig and Joge are filled with a population of heartless brigands 
and robbers. To the north-east of Arig land, in the neighbourhood of 
lake Kokonor (Tshononpo), is situated the sacred place of pilgrimage, 
called Tagkartal jong, in a cavern of which there are said to exist many 
self-sprung Buddhist images, as well as some springs and small lakes. 
To some distance from it, and on the west, is the monastery of Pagya. 
To the south-east of ISTakhog, within the jurisdiction of Ssetwan in the 
neighbourhood of Ssugpher, there are several tribes called Muge and 
Sarp, who speak a kind of Tibetan and belong to the Tibetan family. 
The lower Sarpas are not allied to the Tibetan family. To the north¬ 
east of Joge, not at a great distance from it, are a few Kokonor people. 
To the south-east end of those places, and far from the Chinese district 
of Helun, lies the district of Sangkhog, in which is situated the grand 
monastery of Labrang Tashi khyiZ, the seat of the famous Lama Jamyan 
sliepa Dorje. This is the best and largest of all Amdoan monasteries. 
Close to this monastery lies the celebrated rock called Gankyai Tagkar, 
which is said to be famed as the abode of Khadoma (fairies), and to 
contain many wonderful and supernatural images of saints. To the 
south of Sangkhog lies the lower Joge, to the south of which lie Chkog, 
Gor, Tsoi, Tsaye, Thebo, Ssam tsha, Khyage, and other divisions and 
tribes. To the east of these, and bordering the Chinese district of 
Ssetwan, lies the large Tibetan district of Clione, which contains five 
large monasteries, and block-prints of Kahgyur and Tangyur. 
