ABSTRACT
You must know that as the Kingdom of Thibet is very mountainous, the water draining off the mountains forms rivers; especially there is one which flowing from West to East traverses the centre of Third Thibet and the province of Kong-to, which lies more to the East, and then turning to the South-East enters the country of Lhobà [Bhutan], whence it descends to Rongmati [Rangamati], a province of Mogol beyond the Ganges into which this principal river of Thibet at last flows. 17 Although the Thibettans have a few large wooden boats, they generally use those made of skins. These are not long and pointed, but round and flat-bottomed without any keel, so they are easily upset. They are usually made of three or four ox skins sewn together and stretched over a wooden frame. In these boats men and goods are ferried across the rivers, but donkeys are unloaded, their legs tied together, and they are thrown into the. bottom of the boat like dead animals. Horses, mules, and mountain oxen cannot cross in these boats but must either go where there are wooden boats, or swim. One has to pay something to the boatmen. The King’s, Lamá’s and Governor’s messengers pay no fee. As many persons cannot pay and the boats are sometimes unable to cross or are not ready, iron bridges have been built for the convenience of foot-passengers. These consist of two thick, low turrets or two strong stone walls. To these are attached two large iron chains about four feet apart, from which hang thinner chains, fastened on either side to the principal ones about every two feet, and forming loops on which are placed planks about eight inches, or a little more, wide.
