ABSTRACT
After traversing the province of Yee and crossing a high and precipitous mountain one reaches a country where the climate is not so rigid, called Takpò. It is divided into several provinces of which Takpò-Cignl is the chief, the others are Takpò-to, Takpò-Ru, Takpò-tru-Lung and Takpò-Kbier, 34 each has its own Governor. Fruit, especially grapes, are abundant in the last named province, and they have more wood than in other parts of Thibet. Reopontico grows all over these mountains, and assenzio pontico is quite common; Melilotus (sweet clover), spigonardo (spikenard), resinous juniper, also a quantity of most excellent pine-resin is found. 35 Pasture is better and more abundant here, and as in these provinces there are fewer merchants, the riches of a family is calculated by the number of mountain oxen and cows, the good pasturage and the extraordinary abundance of butter produced; large caravans laden with it go to the other provinces of Thibet. All the writing paper used in Thibet comes from Takpó, a great deal is also sent to Nepal. It is made from the thin bark, or rather cuticle, of slender boughs of a shrub which grows there (a daphne; see Note 30, Book I). The wine, which we also used in the Mission for the Holy Mass, is made in the Province of Takpò-Khier, but must be boiled until reduced by one third, or it will not keep. The Thibettans do not understand how to make wine properly and do not consume it, but only drink a sort of beer called ciang [chang] which I shall describe later.
