Institutions of the Inhabitants of Boutan. 501 



, The Boutea music consists of long flat notes swelled and sunk with the 

 solemnity of psalm tunes, and they have the faculty of filling their wind 

 instruments, at least to all appearance, with an uninterrupted current of 

 breath. In painting and sculpture they are as far from excelling as the 

 Chinese whom they imitate : of their proficiency in geometry and astronomy I 

 had no means of inquiry. In these, however, as well as every other branch of 

 useful knowledge, it is probable they only want teachers to equal, if not to 

 surpass, their Indian neighbours, over whom they possess an advantage in 

 an exemption from the restraint of caste, that insuperable bar to social 

 improvements and national dignity. A man of merit would be at liberty to 

 pursue the bent of his genius, whatever the employment or profession it 

 might point to ; even the priesthood is not confined to any particular rank 

 or age, and men advanced in life sometimes assume the function.* On the 

 approach of an invader, the defence of their little nation would not be 

 entrusted to a small proportion of the inhabitants, who, born in the military 

 tribe, might not be the better adapted by nature to the profession of arms ; 

 but the whole would rise together, and the priests turn out for its defence, 

 should the exigency of the case require their assistance. The operations 

 before Wandepore were conducted by a gylong. The Rajah's Dewan, and 

 the Kelidar of Tacissudon, who is also of that order, bear about them the 

 marks of wounds received in former wars. 



I have already remarked the superiority of size and justness of form of the 

 Bouteas : they have also a free openness of carriage and an apparent sin- 

 cerity of behaviour, that might be thought incompatible with the despotism 

 of the government. But the government, although in appearance as absolute 

 as one can be, is not administered with that rigour and injustice which pro- 

 duces an abject servility and meanness in the manners of the people 

 governed ; and whether the disposition of mankind is naturally prone to 

 evil, or left on an equipoise between right and wrong, it has as good a 

 chance of turning to the practice of the social duties in Boutan, as in any 

 country in the world : for the natives in their respective classses are so 

 nearly on a level, and have so few means of raising themselves above it, 

 that the passions of envy, hatred, and malice, if not dormant, must be less 



• Previous to admission into tlie order, it is required of the candidate to pass a twelvemonth in 

 preparation, the principal part of which is said to be counting his beads to the repetition of the 

 sentence omanipeemeliuii. 



Vol,. II. 3 T 



