210 Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



place being prohibited, as the Booteas, although long before informed 

 of our approach and intentions, were not quite certain of our designs. 



On the following day, after some fuss, we were allowed to ascend to 

 the village, in which a pucka house had been appropriated for our ac- 

 commodation. 



Dewangari, the temples of which are visible from the plains of 

 Assam, is situated on a ridge, elevated about 2100 feet above the 

 level of the sea, and 1950 above that of the plains. The village 

 extends some distance along the ridge, as well as a little way down 

 its northern face. The houses, which are in most cases mere huts, 

 amount to about 100; they are distributed in three or four scattered 

 groups ; amongst these a few pucka or stone-built houses of the ordinary 

 size and construction occur ; the only decent one being that occupied 

 by the Soobah, who is of inferior rank. 



Along the ridge three or four temples of the ordinary Boodhistical 

 form occur; they are surrounded with banners bearing inscriptions, 

 fixed longitudinally to bamboos. Attached to some of these temples 

 are monumental walls of poor construction, the faces of which bear slabs 

 of slate, on which sacred sentences are well carved.* 



The village abounds in filth. The centre of the ridge is kept as a 

 sort of arena for manly exercises ; about this space there occur some 

 picturesque simool trees, and a few fig trees, among which is the 

 banyan. 



There is no water course or spring near the village ; the supply is 

 brought from a considerable distance by aqueducts formed of the 

 hollowed-out trunks of small trees. In one place this aqueduct is 

 carried across a slip, but otherwise there is nothing tending to shew 

 that difficulties existed, or that much skill would have been exerted 

 had such really occurred. 



During our long stay at this place we had many opportunities of 

 forming acquaintance with the Soobah, as well as with the immediate- 

 ly adjoining part of his district. We found this almost uncultivated, 

 and overran with jungle. No large paths were seen to point out that 

 there are many villages near Dewangari ; in fact the only two which 

 bear marks of frequent communication, are that by which we ascended, 

 and one which runs eastward to a picturesque village about half a 

 mile distant, and which also leads to the plains. 



The Soobah we found to be a gentlemanly unassuming man; he 

 received us in a very friendly manner and with some state ; the room 



* Both to the east and west of Dewangari there is a picturesque religious edifice, 

 with ornamented windows. Their effect is much heightened by the presence of the 

 wnoping Cypress, which situated as it was here, gave me an idea of extreme beauty. 



