the man
was of prodigious strength, or the boat of extreme lightness. We looked
at the man, and saw nothing extraordinary in him; we approached the boat,
examined it, touched it, and the problem was solved. This large boat was
made of ox hide solidly sewn together; inside, a few light bamboo sticks
served to keep it in shape.

After having heartily shaken hands with the Cashmerian governor, we
entered the boat, but we nearly burst it the first step we made. They
had forgotten to tell us that we must only tread on the bamboo rods.
When we were all embarked, the boatman pushed off with a long pole, and
in the twinkling of an eye we were on the other side of the river; we
sprang ashore, and the owner taking the boat on his back, went off across
the fields.

These hide boats have the disadvantage of not remaining long in the water
without rotting. Each time they are done with, the boatmen take care to
turn them upside down on the beach, to let them dry. Perhaps by
varnishing them well, they might be preserved from the action of the
water, and rendered capable of enduring a longer navigation.

When we were mounted, we cast a last look on the town of Lha-Ssa, still
visible in the distance, and said in our hearts: "Oh, my God, thy will be
done!" and followed in silence the progress of the caravan. It was the
15th of March, 1846.

[Picture: Scene on the river Bo-Tchou]

[Picture: Bridge of Ghiamda]

CHAPTER VIII.

Chinese account of Thibet--Mountain of Loumma-Ri--Arrival at
Ghiamda--Visit of two military Mandarins--Accident on a wooden
bridge--The unicorn--Passage of a glacier--Appearance of Lha-Ri--Ascent
of Chor-Kon-La--Frightful road to Alan-To--Village of
Lang-Ki-Tsoung--Famous mountain of Tanda--Catastrophe of
Kia-Yu-Kiao--Passage of the celebrated plateau of Wa-Ho--Arrival at
Tsiamdo.

Leaving Lha-Ssa we travelled for several days, amid a large valley
entirely cultivated, and where we remarked on every side numerous
Thibetian farms, generally surrounded by trees. The labours of
agriculture had not yet commenced, for in Thibet the winters are always
long and severe. Herds of goats and bellowing oxen were wandering
dejectedly about the dusty fields, biting every now and then at the hard
roots of the tsing-kou, with which the ground was covered; this species
of barley is the chief culture of these poor regions.

The entire valley is composed of a number of