The.vai;iety.of scenery .we .were 'presented, with- thisday,. was highly
picturesque andigrand.j Qnione^spot-in particular we viewed, tumbling
hum its source, in the bosonuof. a lofty, mountain, a,copious (layer,
white with foam^and finelyrcontrasted with ■ the. dark hued pines, as
it rushed over the blackened, rock, to meet the Patchieu. We were
;met by a prodigious number of passengers, carrying«burdeils^and
we overtook others, ascending this lofty mountain. They were really
models of athletic strength : it was astonishing to .behold the firm,
large, and well divided muscles of their limbs, which were powerful
indications of the great degree, in which laborious exertion conduces
to the increase of strength. Although climate may, in some measure,
contribute, yet -their yeryf’muscular. appearance is not wholly to be
ascribed to its influence ;.for it may be. observed, that notwithstanding
as we advanced, the; climate, was supposed to improve, and the atmosphere
became more pure and rare, there; being no stagnant waters,
and little vegetation, to charge the air with noxious, vapours., yet the
•people.were much less robust. At the same time I must observe, that
the Tibetians, always travelling on level ground, carrying a weight of
clothing that bids defiance to the most .piercing winds, and wearing
thick boots, equally proof against the iropressionVof sharp-pointed
rocksj or the penetrability of thawing snow, are neither in size, acti-
vity, nor ability to endure fatigue, on a level with the. Booteeas; who
never go abroad but they must climb an ascent; and.who - go thinly
clad, exposing their bare heads to every wind that blows, and. trudging
with naked feet in the most rugged and the smoothest roads.
In various places' near our path, we saw. little parties of Booteeas,
1,95
who, hi\mg.lard down thurloads, wcic sittinguncLi,< nitres otthe
Apck,, themselves. witli tpb4j;c0^ndf.\efyfspciabjy pulling, arid
pushing about therjfi!peljfrpm on.^ 1 lipv, v\uc*nu\ed .societies,
generally,JGpnsis|ipg|p^eL6^y'pmen'.thanimenand th^„ehastted
!’ ’t9gethe^ ^p|j^|&ntly in great good humqur* and bjdcpiciytky'joiiHil^ji
loud bui Sts ol, laughlu. flic- dispospion^yvrs'cotitligifiusj^mih^conld
we viewt'ko^mdch' honest mirth without a wiiile'.VAi
^ ^ ^ f^ te d fn e a r ojae,p^te^^^q|sji I had^carripdj^^wffi^^^fny
'thand, rand §et it down by tn,e 'to- take b e a r i p g s | t h e g^rmpiad-
.Vanced,' and taking it up ip his hand, viewed it widi‘ allbfjJjctYu., I
explained to hioAj,a,s well assl cauld^' <Ae.pr&puty pfilie needle;, and
he passed.it. to the test of hfycomrades, wb^>^b^Cpj^®4dMt wrtlr;fhe
same expressions' of suipusc; it was.alltrw'aids ret in tied vua cai,efiij*ly
.td.jshe place, from whence it was^takent, t Eh'eydf' bebpld faimom florid
picture of health than, was exhibited in the complexion qh'the jnoujsij-
taineers we.met3lto-day| 'thes wbmenpf! paiticular,, with thuRjct blink
hair, and clear brisk, black /eyes, - badf a;',rudHi^e|s., jvvhic^ most
iorid English rustic would kt waipi^h^idM^yiva'h y. \
We left on our right, a sortmf rude hqvfeljpv,b,ich'thealIed,(l^sa-.
It serves as a resting-place, for travellers passing Stp^'aM, froi/.j E-j^ry
species of small apdflatgerjforest tree,' wes hacUnow .left, behinfijiis,
jfhd:Wer& t0 look down on the loy&qrygrqunds ^Xjluxuiiant vegetation.
Nothing but dockscand nettles t^br'dtfe ithe^g^mrd^b^hf, (Jassas
The bleak and lofty summits o f thispand the adjacenf mountains, give
growth only to short .herbage, with here and there ..a. straggling,barberry
bush.