514 Mr. S. D^tris on the Religious and Social 



On the interposition of "Wizie Rimbochy, compassionate of the people's 

 sufferings, and at their humble supplication, these plagues were withdrawn. 

 These annual rites are therefore performed in honour of Wizie Rimbochy, 

 and to implore continuance of his protection, that the people may prosper, 

 and not again be delivered over to any such infernal agents. 



The Bouteas have stories of flying dragons, and of nations of monsters, 

 M'hich they say are fully treated of in some of their religious tracts. A 

 dragon is sometimes seen upon a rock near Ponaka, and the Rajah's inter- 

 preter told me very gravely, that a young one of the same breed had been 

 caught upon a mountain, and was still kept very carefully by the gylongs 

 among the sacred things in the chapel. A ceremony, which by only a few 

 weeks preceded the last, should not be omitted, as it seemed of some im- 

 portant meaning, although there was no getting it intelligibly explained. 



We were alarmed early one morning with the firing of matchlocks from 

 the roof of the castle by about twenty persons, who, when they descended, 

 were found completely dressed in chain armour, with steel caps, from eacii 

 of which rose a plume of feathers. Tiiey formed a wide circle in the gy- 

 long court round a capacious vessel of liquor, and, as they marched round 

 it, one of the number continued giving out verses of eight syllables, which 

 the rest repeated after him, often capering and flourishing tiieir swords. 

 All the explanation they would give of this business was, that it was proper 

 to be done for the good of the country. 



The wild and domestic animals of Boutan are some of them peculiar to 

 the hills, and the rest such as are equally found in Bengal. The horses 

 come under the former denomination, and are so well known as to need no 

 description ; they seem of the same species as those brouglit from Aclieen, 

 which are so much used on the coast of Coromandel, and are smaller and 

 better adapted to the nature of the country than those from Tiiibet, of 

 which there are many at Tacissudon. The native liorned cattle, to all 

 outward appearance, are the same species with those of England, except 

 where the breed has been mixed with that of Bengal, and in this case the 

 hump between the shoulders is perceptible. Of sheep, I believe they have 

 no other than what are occasionally brought from Thibet. I never met 

 with any, but my companions once saw a few near Tacissudon. Goats 

 they have in plenty, which differ in no respect from those of India. The 

 hofTS are a small breed imported from Rungpore and Cooch Beyhar. Tiie 

 Bouteas use more of this than of any other sort of animal food. The dogs 



