That its effects on flocks
imported from the plains are highly injurious, whilst those of the hills
do not appear to suffer, probably because they shun the young leaves,
which alone are deleterious. Mr. Marsh attests the like fact regarding the
Kalmia angustifolia of New England, a plant of the same order
(Ericaceae). Sheep bred where it abounds almost always avoid browsing on
its leaves, whilst those brought from districts where it is unknown feed
upon it and are poisoned.
Firishta, quoting from the Zafar-Namah, says: "On the road from Kashmir
towards Tibet there is a plain on which no other vegetable grows but a
poisonous grass that destroys all the cattle that taste of it, and
therefore no horsemen venture to travel that route." And Abbe Desgodins,
writing from E. Tibet, mentions that sheep and goats are poisoned by
rhododendron leaves. (Dr. Hugh Cleghorn in J. Agricultural and Hortic.
Society of India, XIV. part 4; Marsh's Man and Nature, p. 40; Briggs
Firishta, IV. 449; Bul. de la Soc. de Geog. 1873, I. 333.)
["This poisonous plant seems to be the Stipa inebrians described by the
late Dr. Hance in the Journal of Bot. 1876, p. 211, from specimens sent
to me by Belgian Missionaries from the Ala Shan Mountains, west of the
Yellow River." (Bretschneider, Hist. of Bot. Disc. I. p. 5.)
"M. Polo notices that the cattle not indigenous to the province lose their
hoofs in the Suh-chau Mountains; but that is probably not on account of
some poisonous grass, but in consequence of the stony ground."
(Palladius, l.c. p. 9.) - H. C.]
CHAPTER XLIV.
OF THE CITY OF CAMPICHU.
Campichu is also a city of Tangut, and a very great and noble one. Indeed
it is the capital and place of government of the whole province of
Tangut.[NOTE 1] The people are Idolaters, Saracens, and Christians, and
the latter have three very fine churches in the city, whilst the Idolaters
have many minsters and abbeys after their fashion. In these they have an
enormous number of idols, both small and great, certain of the latter
being a good ten paces in stature; some of them being of wood, others of
clay, and others yet of stone. They are all highly polished, and then
covered with gold. The great idols of which I speak lie at length.[NOTE 2]
And round about them there are other figures of considerable size, as if
adoring and paying homage before them.
Now, as I have not yet given you particulars about the customs of these
Idolaters, I will proceed to tell you about them.
