National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

encyclopædias of Lamaism. It was here that he was enabled to study these gigantic
collections of Tibetan literature, and to write his still invaluable 'Analysis of the Kanjur
and Stanjur.' The library is kept in a separate building called bkā-ngyur some distance
below the monastery. Gerard who inspected this library on the occasion of his visit to
Csoma in Kanam, has the following note on it : "The edition of the Kahgyur and Stan-
gyur at Kanum was sent from Teshi lhunpo (bKra-shis-lhun-po) only about 9 years ago
(i.e. in 1820); the printing bears a date of ninety years, yet the ink and type look as
perfect and fresh as ever. No insects attack them, though the climate here is varying
in summer. The book cases being made of cedar are indestructible……The works, being
distinct, are arranged in separate places. These resemble large chests or cisterns, stand-
ing on end, and partitioned into cells, each containing a volume, which is carefully
wrapped within many folds, laced with cord, and bound tightly between boards of cypress
or cedar……Some of the volumes were opened before me, and I gazed with a sort of
reverential feeling upon such gigantic compilations yet unfolded to the world, and
thought of the humble individual in the hamlet who was occupied in illustrating their
unexplored contents."

There is yet a third Lamaist building in the place. It is called Lhabrang and is
situated between the village and the fields. It is said to be of not much later date than
the dGon-pa. No ancient relic has been preserved in it. It contains a modern stucco
statue of Maitrêya. Another small stucco statue represents the white Tārā and is
believed to be of some antiquity. It is a really good piece of workmanship, and the face
shows expressive features, more spiritual than usual.

Above the dGon-pa, there is a long row of white quadrangular buildings which are
said to be crematories. In most villages, a single such incinerator has to suffice for many
people. Here one once used for a high lama, is apparently not used again. It is con-
verted into a kind of quadrangular mchod-rten.

Although no ancient remains can be found at Kanam, it is quite possible that, as
asserted, a Lamaist monastery was built here in the 11th century. The present buildings
were probably erected on the sites of still more ancient ones. The monastery may have
been ransacked several times ; for the last time by the Gurkhas. When Gerard was on
his expedition in the Satluj valley, he met with continual reports of the devasta-
tions by the Gurkhas from Kōtgur to the Tibetan frontier.

On the 1st of July we marched from Kanam to the Shasu rope bridge. I arrived
at the bridge at 11 A.M., but did not reach the opposite bank of the river, a tributary to
the Satluj, before 5 P.M. When I arrived at the site of the bridge, nothing could be
seen but a steel rope. We had sent intimation of our intention to cross the bridge to the
next village, but there was no response. I found only a single old man on our bank of the
river, who had a one-wheeled trolley without any ropes at hand. When all our coolies had
come up and enjoyed a little rest, the ropes which they had used for carrying our bags and
boxes, were tied together and fastened to the trolley, and after much experimenting
it was found possible to work it, and our boxes one after another were slowly pulled across.
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