DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION, MOUNTAINS, AND PLAINS OF TIBET, AND d
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND RELIGION OF THE INHABITANTS, h


'TisgT is à long [and narrow] country.! From Aikan Báin, which
means ** between the north and the west," towards Bakani,? which
is * between the south and the east," is eight months' journey. -
Its breadth is [nowhere] more than one month's journey, nor less
than ten days. Its frontier on the side of Rkan Báin, adjoins
Daluristán (as was stated above, in the description of Balur); that
on the Bakani side, touches Huchu Sálár, which is à dependency
of [what is called] Kanjánfu? of Khitái. In the description of the


! "The expression literally translated is * running lengthwise."

? ''hese terms are not to be found in Persian or 'TTurki dictionaries, and I am
not aware whatlanguage they belong to. "The first one especially is subject to
many readings, and that adopted in the text is by no means certainly the right
one. It may be Rukn, Zikan, etc., and Baib, Payin, ekc., ete. .Bakani may also
be read in several ways. Fortunately, the author himself enlightens us as to the
meaning.
