h astronomical figures and
diagrams, all of them represented by Arabic numerals, which were also
used in the paging of the volumes. Some of these figures differed
slightly from the Arabic numerals used in Europe; the most marked
difference we noticed was that of the 5, which, in these manuscripts, was
turned upside down, thus: [Picture: Upside-down five]

From the few details we have thus given as to the productions of Thibet,
it may be concluded that this country is perhaps the richest, and, at the
same time, the poorest in the world; rich in gold and silver, poor in all
that constitutes the well-being of the masses. The gold and silver
collected by the people is absorbed by the great people, and especially
by the Lamaseries, those immense reservoirs, into which flow, by a
thousand channels, all the wealth of these vast regions. The Lamas,
invested with the major part of the currency, by the voluntary donations
of the faithful, centruple their fortunes by usury that puts even Chinese
knavery to the blush. The offerings they receive are converted, as it
were, into hooks, with which they catch the purses out of every one's
pocket. Money being thus accumulated in the coffers of the privileged
classes, and, on the other hand, the necessaries of life being only
procurable at a very high price, it results from this capital disorder,
that a great proportion of the population is constantly plunged in the
most frightful destitution. At Lha-Ssa the number of mendicants is very
considerable. They go from door to door, soliciting a handful of tsamba,
and enter any one's house, without the least ceremony. Their manner of
asking charity is to hold out the closed hand, with the thumb raised. We
must add, in commendation of the Thibetians, that they are generally very
kind and compassionate, rarely sending away the poor unassisted.

Among the foreigners settled at Lha-Ssa, the Pebouns are the most
numerous. These are Indians from the vicinity of Boutan, on the other
side of the Himalaya mountains. They are of slight frame, but very
vigorous, active, and animated; their features are rounder than those of
the Thibetians: the complexion very dark, the eyes small, black, and
roguish; the forehead is marked with a dark, cherry-coloured spot, which
they renew every morning. They are all attired in a uniform robe of pink
poulou, with a small felt cap of the same colour, but of somewhat darker
tint. When they go out, they add to