Book II. Travels in India. 



ra&ers upon the Barrel, it appear'd to have been made above 180 years. It was 

 very thick, the mouth of the bore being like a Tulip, polifh'd within as bright as 

 a Looking-glafs. Two thirds of the Barrel were garnifh'd with embofs'd Wires, 

 with certain Flowers of Gold and Silver inlaid between j and it carri'd a Bullet 

 that weigh'd an ounce. But I could not prevail with the Merchant to fell it me, 

 nor to give me any of his powder. 



There are always fifty Elephants kept about the King's Houfe, and twenty five 

 Camels, with each a Piece of Artillery mounted upon his back, that carries half 

 a pound Ball. Behind the Gun fits a Cannoneer that manages and levels the Guns 

 as he pleafès. 



There is no King in the World more fear'd and more refpecled by his Subjects 

 then the King of Bout ah ; being in a manner ador'd by them. When he fits to do 

 Juftice, or give Audience, all that appear in his prefence hold their hands clofe to- 

 gether above their forheads : and at a diftance from the Throne proftrate them- 

 selves upon the ground, not daring to lift up their heads. In this humble pofture 

 they make their Petitions to the King ; and when they retire, they go backwards 

 till they are quite out of his fight. One thing they told me for truth, that when 

 the King has done the deeds of nature, they diligently preferve the ordure, dry 

 it and powder it, like fnee/.ing-powder : and then putting it into Boxes, they go 

 every Market-day, and prêtent it to the chief Merchants, and rich Farmers, who 

 recompence them for their kindnefs : that thole people alfo carry it home, as a 

 great rarity, and when they feaft their Friends, ftreAv it upon their meat. Two 

 Boutan Merchants fhew'd me their Boxes, and the Powder that was in 

 them. 



The Natives of Boutan are ftrong and well proportion'd ; but their nofes and 

 faces are fbmewhat flat. Their women are faid to be bigger and more vigo- 

 rous than the men ; but that they are much more troubled with fwellings in 

 the throat then the men, few efcaping that dileafe. They know not what war 

 is, having no enemy to fear but the Mogul. But from him they are feftc'd 

 with high, fteep, craggy, and fnowey Mountains. Northward there are nothing 

 but vaft Forrefts and Snow. Eaft and Weft nothing but bitter water. And as 

 for the Raja's near them, they are Princes of little force. 



There is certainly fome Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Boutan, for the King 

 coins much Silver, in pieces that are of the value of a Roupy. The pieces 

 are already défcrib'd. However the Boutan Merchants could not tell me where 

 the Mine lay. And as for their Gold, that little they have is brought them 

 from the Eaft, by the Merchants of thofe Countries. 



In the year 1679, the Duke of Mafcovfs EmbaflTadors pafsM through this 

 Country to the King of China. They were three of the greateft Noblemen in 

 Mufcovy, and were at firft very well receiv'd ; but when they were brought 

 to kifs the Kings hands, the cuftom being to proftrate themfelves three times to 

 the ground, they refus'd to do it, faying that they would complement the King 

 after their manner, and as they approach'd their own Emperor, who was as great 

 and as potent as the Emperor of China. Thereupon, and for that they con- 

 tinu'd in their refolution, they were difmifs'd with their prefènts, not being ad- 

 mitted to fee the King. But had thofe Embafladors conform'd to the cuftom of 

 China, without doubt we might have had a beaten rode through Mufcovy and 

 the North part of Great Tartary, and much more commerce and knowledge 

 of the Country than now we have. 



' This mentioning the Muscovites , puts me in mind of a ftory that fevera* 

 Mufcovy Merchants averr'd to be true, upon the rode between Tauris and If- 

 pahan, where I overtook them, of a woman of fourfcore and two years of 

 age, who at thofe years was brought to bed in one of the Cities of Mufcovy, 

 of a Male Child,' which was carry'd to the Duke, and by him brought up at 

 the Court. 



CHAP, 



