Institutions of the Inhabitants of Boutan. 5(ff 



which is already, from the unchangeable ruggedness of the country, as un- 

 assailable as they can desire. 



The best means of attaining an explanation of the principles of the Boutea 

 religion, might be to translate some of their books on the subject : the 

 ceremonial part would, perhaps, be best observed by a visit to the resi- 

 dence of the Delai Lama. There are ceremonies used at Tacissudon which 

 are unknown at Teshulombo, and it is not unlikely that the Bouteas, from 

 a nearer intercourse with India, may have adopted more abundantly than 

 the Thibetians the articles of Hindoo faith. The natives of Thibet and 

 Boutan differ in the disposal of the dead : the former expose the bodies on 

 a building, erected for the purpose, to the action of the weather, and to be 

 devoured by birds of prey ;* but in Boutan they are reduced to ashes as in 

 India.t I saw one upon the funeral pile, but did not arrive till some time 

 after the fire had been applied. About a dozen of gylongs sat in front 

 under a shed (it being rainy weather) muttering prayers. At intervals 

 their religious instruments were sounded, and an attendant was often sent with 

 spoonfuls of oil and other consecrated articles to throw into the flame. 

 The women are said to receive the last office from the gylongs at their 

 death, although so much slighted by them during their lives. The Bouteas 

 have likewise an imitation of the machine used in India, commonly called 

 a swammy-coach ; but from never making wheels except on such occasions, 

 they are so aukwardly contrived, as to perform but very imperfectly their 

 intended office. A ceremony of this kind happened soon after our arrival 

 at Tacissudon, in consequence of the decease of a very eminent priest of 

 that class who, devoting their lives to the austere duties of religion, retire 

 to some solitary habitation among the mountains. Finding his end draw 

 nigh, he expressed a wish to see the Rajah, and, as we were informed, adver- 

 tised him of disturbances shortly to happen in his government, and warned 

 him to avert both the calamities of war, and an impending blow with which 

 he himself was threatened, by imploring the protection of the deity in a 

 solemn and public invocation. These troubles were probably foreseen by 

 others as well as the old gylong, for the prediction was understood to mean 

 the insurrection occasioned by the zempin of Wandepore. A pyramidal 

 pile was formed near the bank of the river, composed of slips of wood, 



This is like the Parsees. f The Budh' priests of China burn their dead likewise — J.F.D. 



