Institutions of the Inhabitants of Boutan. 



509 



their faces to the water ; while the loads were placed in a row close upon the 

 edge of the bank. Some prayers were muttered, and' every one pro- 

 duced his dish, which was filled with tea by zeen-caab attendants, who also 

 presented each gylong with a piece of melon. When they had drank their 

 tea, eat the piece of melon, and when those charged with the loads had 

 again bound up their mouths, they all rose up, took off the embroidered 

 cloths, and at a signal tumbled the articles which had been covered into 

 the stream. These articles proved to be only large stones, and lumps of 

 clay : I suppose consecrated for the occasion. 



In the month of September is held an annual religious festival which lasts 

 about twenty days. The ceremonies during the former part of the time 

 consist of muttering prayers in the principal chapel, which is decked 

 out for the occasion. A temporary altar is raised in the middle of it, 

 adorned with silk flags and handkerchiefs of various colours, and other 

 showy articles. The front of the gallery, and some of the pillars, were hung 

 round with religious ensigns of satin, embroidered and painted, and not 

 inelegantly disposed ; and two other pillars supported martial trophies com- 

 posed of arms of various kinds. A matchlock of an uncommon size formed 

 the centre of each ; some Indian pikes (for they have none of their own) 

 and European muskets, with the bayonets fixed, contributed to form the 

 body of the piece, which was terminated with lighter weapons, with swords, 

 shields, and bows and arrows. On one side of the chapel stood a row of 

 figures fantastically dressed as warriors, and on the floor sat the priests, 

 disposed in ranks perpendicular with the front of the altar. One half of the 

 number of ranks faced the other half, leaving a wide passage up the middle 

 in which lay their large tabrets or drums. Before each priest was placed a 

 small bell, and an instrument composed of a piece of wood, about a palm 

 in the length, with an ornament at each end, shaped something like a little 

 crown. These they often used, taking the bell in one hand and the wooden 

 instrument in the other, presenting them forward with the inside of the 

 hand turned upwards as they muttered their prayers. Lam-keb, who is 

 fourth in rank, and commandant of gylongs, sat fronting the altar, and 

 gave the word and signal for every thing that was done. I continued to 

 view them about half an hour from the window below, and from the gallery 

 above, and should have staid longer had the operations appeared to admit of 

 any variety. 



The season of praying being over, the exhibition of dancing began, and 



Vol. II. S U 



