Dec. 1848. 



MURWA BEER. 



291 



secret came out, that his highness was dreadfully alarmed 

 at my coming with the two Ghorka Sepoys, whom I 

 accordingly dismissed. 



The house was of the usual Bhoteea form, of wood, well 

 built on posts, one-storied, containing a single apartment 

 hung round with bows, quivers, shields, baskets of rice, and 

 cornucopias of Indian corn, the handsomest and most 

 generous looking of all the Cerealia. The whole party 

 were deep in a carouse on Murwa beer, and I saw the 

 operation of making it. The millet-seed is moistened, 

 and ferments for two clays : sufficient for a day's allowance 

 is then put into a vessel of wicker-work, lined with India- 

 rubber to make it water-tight ; and boiling water is poured 

 on it with a ladle of gourd, from a huge iron cauldron 

 that stands all day over the fire. The fluid, when quite 

 fresh, tastes like negus of Cape sherry, rather sour. At 

 this season the whole population are swilling, whether at 

 home or travelling, and heaps of the red-brown husks are 

 seen by the side of all the paths. 



SIKKIM LAMAS WITH PRAYING CYLINDER AND DOR.TE ; THE LATERAL FIGURES 

 ARE MONKS OR GVLONGS. 



