234 Capt. V ember ton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



80°, and the minimum 70°- The cultivation in the valley, the soil of 

 which seems very poor, containing a large proportion of mica, was 

 during our stay limited to wheat and buck- wheat, but scarcely any of 

 the former seemed likely to come to ear. Ground was preparing for 

 the reception of rice, which is sown and planted in the usual manner. 

 Crops just sown are immediately eaten up \>y the swarms of sacred 

 pigeons that reside in the palace, so that husbandry is by no means 

 profitable ; more especially as there are other means of providing for 

 the crops, such as they may be. Thus we saw several small fields, 

 amounting perhaps to an acre in extent, cut down to provide fodder 

 for some ponies that had lately shared in a religious excursion to 

 Wandipore. 



Cattle are not frequent. There were some pigs. The fowls were 

 of the most miserable description, and very scarce. In spite of offers 

 of purchase and plenty of promises, we were throughout allowed 

 three a day r and they were rather smaller than pigeons. Towards the 

 latter end of our stay, rice became bad and scarce. 



We saw nothing indicating any degree of trade worth mentioning. 

 Parties changing their residence frequently passed through from the 

 north-east, generally accompanied by ponies, whose most common 

 burdens appeared to be salt. No direct intercourse appears to exist 

 with Thibet, as even the tea, which they consume in large quantities, 

 is said to come from Paro Pillo's. 



There are a great number of Assamese slaves about Punukka; 

 indeed all the agricultural work, as well as that of beasts of burden, 

 appears to devolve upon these unfortunate creatures, who are miser- 

 ably provided for, and perhaps dirtier than a genuine Bootea himself. 

 During my morning walks I was almost daily entreated for protection. 

 In one case only, and in this by the merest accident, was Captain 

 Peniberton enabled to get such evidence as authorised him to claim 

 it as entitled to British protection. Connected with this case is an act 

 of black treachery, to which I shall hereafter refer. 



We stopt so long here, and we had daily so many instances proving 

 that no confidence could be placed on any thing coming from the 

 palace, that I began at last to despair of getting away. The old Deb 

 was very anxious to see us, and the new Deb still more anxious that 

 we should accompany him when he left Punukka, in the hope that 

 the presence of the Mission would be advantageous to him. 



It wa entirely owing to the firmness of Captain Peniberton that 

 we were enabled to avoid such a disagreeable meeting ; and the Deb, 

 feeling at last convinced that his views could not be carried into 

 effect, gave orders for getting rid of us as speedily as possible ; and on 



