same time, to Operate as a chbiin over the Dewtas, at genii loci, who
are paramount here. No mountain is thought to be wholly exempt from
their influence; but they are peculiarly given to range in most eÜ-
vated regions; where, drenched with dews, and worried by tempestuous
weather, they are supposed to deal around them, in ill huthour,
their most baneful spells, to harass and annoy the traveller.
We deseendedy by an easy declivity, towards the plain of Phari;
and as we proceeded, the first ohjeefc. viewed. upon it, from thé road,
was a low hill, rising abruptly from, a dead flat, and' crowned-with a
square stone building, dedicated, as h was told; to funeral eèremo-
hies. According to the custom of Tibetv which, in this respect, is^ in
direct opposition, to the practice of almost all other nations; instead of
that pious attention which, is shewn to the remains ofrtherdead, in die
preservation of their bodies from pollution, by depositing them inthe
ground, they are here exposed, after their decease, like the Perseed- of
India, in the open air,, and left- to be devoured by ravens-, kites, and
other carnivorous birds. In the more populous parts, dogs also come
in for a share of the prey, and regularly attend the consummation., of
the last obsequies.
About a mile farther, on, the fortress of Phari Erst came in view,
Upon the left, standing on high ground. It was a stone building, of
very irregular form, but deemed .to be of great strength: This must
consist in the solidity, óf its walls; which indeed is all that is necessary,
among a people entirely unprovided: with artillery. The sun was
setting; I saw the last of it about two miles off, when we turned short to
the right- towards Ghassa. Goombah; but I had just time to distinguish
anextensive suburb? oarthe north and west: sides of Phari: on the soutji
lay;a.-large basfrnof water; amd:on thejeast,a^hkiof^a|ft|hi;p^ojec(ed
to .a; consj4eraible,dist3nee-,v(Whichi seemed to SUX with: amt^asy'flap#,
from a level'W‘dh the;rampaEh,Jqtajthe,plain'. f .
:vaH«vi<&i Phari., isLvery..dgteinsil/e.tcompared -^ith,j-tijSe|sh.at’row
slips of land .we b^vecbeen used, to look at in B;potanu I. suppose it-itff
be.notdessvthan ten-miles, in length, and four inf^b^lE^tlS^U^’oiaijdsd
on,.all sides with law aadky hills. 1 The1 littl'e snihga^thist, as-welkas,to£i
the lotheijis. incapable of-eultivatjgn&itwas-GQVered witfi^fdpiK'stbribsl
and intersected with.-numberless .water* eh^Bhelstp.Some ofJ thehv n(->&
conveyed shallow; streams; but thp.broadest, w b ich ih f.^£® e|l^m , as
I conjecture,- by the, torKentSiproduced from »the sudden-thaw of, sntpy^
warediy.,. At.the foot o f toejEqpbs^c^tlthe westero»borderjof ;the^pla%^
wtas,,a .large.brook,^flowing towardsuthe, --smith,, W hich thgy-jakled
Mahsttohieu;; ihfld .added,, tha-fa) it« had ^„passage.- t-hrougkthe^hiM.tQf'
Nip.aLv..intQ..Bengal. T anigun, h0mes...chmb;.w.ithj^e;and(safety JoVer
-thgff Iggpegt. anti most pjggecbroadfii;. hutdevel land, is mot so familiar
tojlhema, ;mine, foil twice upon .thetplalin,! hetwsentthqTast descent and
Ghassa Goombah, where we took up our residence, after a short stage
of about eight miles.,
This is the station 9f.PhafiXamav a,dependant.ofTeshoo Loomboo,
who is,-, here a little, potentate, being,superintendent of. a .Goombah,
or monastery, and governor, of a,most extensile:,isangq- of rocks* and
deserts ,, whichf yield, verdure only in the mildest season of.-thexy^ar,
when his?, neighbourhood is'frequented bylarge herds of-the,! tong*
haired, bushy-tailed catfle: from his. character and station, -he has