X48 ACCOUNT OF BHUTAN. 



fering no bloody sacrifices, and in not bending- their heads before the 

 image of any God, saying that the Deity pervades all nature and conse- 

 quently their heads, which it is therefore unbecoming to bow before an 

 image. They eat flesh, drink wine, and make beads of the skulls of men, 

 in the manner of our sect of Beers. They are not Moosulmans, but 

 rather approximate in their opinions to the Hindus of the above sect* who 

 have relinquished the observances of caste and diet. The respectable peo- 

 ple are continually repeating their mantra and performing religious cere- 

 monies. The image of Labberembuche resembles that of Ram ; his 

 countenance is similar, and he holds in his hands a bow and arrow ; the 

 Bhutan deity is however made of copper and gilt. There are also many 

 images of deities with four arms, the manufacture of which is constantly 

 going on in the palace, and together with the subsequent ceremonies, occa- 

 sion the chief expence of the Government. The same sort of articles is 

 not offered to all of their deities: some are presented with the heads of 

 dried fish and fermented liquor ; some receive fruits and rice, while others 

 receive tea, and Loo is presented with pork, and with the head of an ox, 

 which is burnt, and the horns put up in front of the house. 



When a child is born it is first washed with warm water ; after that, the 

 next morning, it is carried to the river and plunged into the water, how- 

 ever cold the weather may be : there it is kept some time and after that its 

 mother is bathed and the child wrapped up and carried homes Marriages 

 are contracts by agreement of the parties, and no ceremonies are observed 

 at their celebration; for the most part the husbands live in the houses of 

 their wives, the latter seldom going to their husband's house. A rich man 

 may keep as many wives as he can maintain, and when poor, three or four 

 brothers club together, and keep one wife amongst them. The children 

 of such a connection call the eldest husband, father, and the others, uncles. It 

 is not considered as any crime for a man to have connection with any of his 

 female relations except his mother ; but it is looked upon as discreditable 

 in the case of a sister or daughter. Almost all the women prostitute them- 

 selves until they are 25 or 30 years of age when they take a husband. Old 



